Modeling of soil moisture dynamics in different coverage conditions in the semiarid

Abstract

Soil moisture is a crucial variable for understanding many natural and hydrological processes that operate at different spatial and temporal scales. There is a lack of information about soil moisture dynamics under different land cover conditions in semiarid regions. Monitoring and modeling this variable over time become essential to support management practices and conservation of soil and water. In this context, this work aimed to model the dynamics of soil moisture applying the Hydrus-1D model from measurements using time-domain reflectometer (TDR), in experimental plots under condition natural coverage and bare soil in the city Pesqueira, PE, Brazil. The Hydrus-1D model presented adequate performance for variable evaluated according to the applied indexes. Results point out that it is possible to use the model to estimate soil moisture at daily basis for the type of soil and cover conditions investigated. The model efficiency by Nash- Sutcliffe index ranged from 72 to 82 %, with a maximum mean squared error of 3% and concordance index higher than 90%.