Evaluation and Performance Assessment of Various Infiltration Models for Sandy Loam Soil Using Automated Double Ring Infiltrometer in the Eastern Ghats Highland Sector, Odisha, India

Abstract

Accurate estimation of infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity is crucial for efficient agricultural water resource management. In this study, the infiltration characteristics of sandy loam soil under field conditions were determined using the automated infiltrometer at Instructional Farm-I, School of Agriculture, GIET University, Gunupur, located in the Eastern Ghats Highland Sector, Odisha, India, and the infiltration data obtained were analyzed using four commonly used infiltration models i.e. Kostiakov's model, Philip’s model, Green-Ampt model and Horton’s model. Model validation was performed by comparing the predicted infiltration rates with those measured by the automated infiltrometer. Results revealed that Philip’s model provided the closest agreement with observed data, exhibiting the highest coefficient of determination (R²) and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) among all models. Statistical analyses confirmed that infiltration rates could be effectively estimated using the Philip, Green-Ampt, Horton, and Kostiakov models, in that order of predictive accuracy.