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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
401

Agricultura irrigada e o licenciamento ambiental / Irrigated agriculture and environmental licensing

Schmidt, Wulf 19 October 2007 (has links)
A agricultura irrigada, como toda atividade antrópica, interfere no ambiente de diferentes modos: (i) a montante com as barragens, canais e linhas de transmissão; (ii) a jusante pela quantidade e qualidade da água liberada que afeta a todos os usuários, do ser humano à flora e fauna; e (iii) no perímetro irrigado com o uso intensivo de agroquímicos, e processos de escorrimento superficial e erosão. Por tudo isto o licenciamento ambiental da agricultura irrigada é obrigatória e definida por lei, e envolve o processo de outorga de uso de água e o licenciamento ambiental propriamente dito. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar os critérios adotados referentes aos processos de licenciamento ambiental dos projetos de irrigação, com ênfase nos processos de outorga segundo as normas estabelecidas pela ANA, e nos estados de São Paulo, Goiás, e Minas Gerais. A análise das informações mostra divergências entre os processos, com falta de parâmetros e critérios definidos em nível nacional e falta de informações básicas para muitas regiões. Conclui-se que a agricultura irrigada pelo seu caráter de atividade intensiva é impactante ao meio, não apenas pelo consumo de água e resíduos de agroquímicos, mas também pela geração de empregos, alimentos e como potencial filtro de água. Como atividade impactante é preciso ser licenciada para poder ser gerida e o recurso água poder estar disponível em quantidade e qualidade a todos os seus usuários. Para que o licenciamento seja justo, ele precisa ter critérios e parâmetros claros, definidos e uniformes para todo o território nacional. Para que estes parâmetros possam ser definidos, é fundamental que as informações necessárias à sua obtenção, existam e estejam gratuitamente disponíveis. Aos legisladores cabe fundamentar junto a comunidade científica os parâmetros a serem definidos no processo de licenciamento, de modo que possam apresentar equilíbrio entre os seus fundamentos, evitando distorções, mas preservando ao objetivo maior que é o da sustentabilidade ambiental. O processo de licenciamento ambiental de São Paulo e Minas, mostram-se como um modelo, embora com pontos de melhorias, às demais unidades da federação, face a sua simplicidade sem omissão, a sua coerência entre a área de recurso hídrico e a área ambiental, sem perder contudo, a sua independência na tomada de decisão. Este processo só é possível nestes estados pelo volume de informações disponíveis. Linhas de financiamento específicas para manutenção, reforma e implantação de barramentos contribuiriam muito para o aumento da disponibilidade hídrica na maioria das bacias hidrográficas pelo sua característica reguladora de vazão e de abastecedora de aqüíferos pelo maior tempo de infiltração. / Irrigated agriculture, as any human activity, interfere in the environment in several ways: (I) upstream through dams, channels and electric main lines; (ii) downstream with the amount and quality of remaining water that affects all users, from humans to flora and fauna; and (iii) at irrigated perimeter by intensive use of agrichemicals and run of and erosion processes. Because of this, environment licensing for irrigated crop is an obligation defined by law, and involve water use licensing and environment licensing itself. Present job has the objective to analyze the criteria adopted by the licensing processes for irrigated agriculture, emphasizing those points related to water use right, according to the rules established by ANA , and the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Information analysis had shown discrepancies among the processes, with an absence of parameters and criteria defined for national level and lack of basic information in several regions. It was concluded that irrigated agriculture as an intensive activity is environmental impacting, not only for water consumption and chemical residues, but also for creating job positions, food production and potential water filter. As in impacting activity should be licensed, to be managed and water resource be available in amount and quality for all communities downstream. To be fair, licensing must have clear and defined parameters and criteria for all country. For those parameters to be defined, it is fundamental that basic information to obtain them exist and is available for free. Legislators should fundament their parameters in close to the scientific community, and so define criteria?s in a balance to avoid distortions, but preserving main target which is environmental sustainability. The environmental licensing process of São Paulo and Minas, are shown as a model, beside improvement points, to the rest of the states, face to it simplicity with no omission, coherence between water resource and environmental areas, without loosing making decision independence. This process only is possible in those states due to the amount of information available. Specific credit lines for maintenance, reformation and building of dams would contribute a lot for the increase of water availability due to their flow regulation characteristic and aquifer supplier because of bigger infiltration opportunity time.
402

Regionalização hidrológica do Estado de Santa Catarina: uma abordagem sazonal e geoestatística baseada em modelos / Hydrologic regionalization of Santa Catarina state: a seasonal and geostatistical approach based on models

Wolff, Wagner 12 January 2017 (has links)
A regionalização hidrológica é uma técnica que permite transferir informação de regiões hidrologicamente monitoradas, para regiões com pouco ou sem monitoramento. Sendo assim, é uma ferramenta útil, a qual permite uma avaliação dinâmica dos recursos hídricos. No Brasil e no Estado de Santa Catarina as leis que são as principais referências para a gestão de recursos hídricos utilizam critérios anuais de disponibilidade hídrica, impossibilitando um maior uso em épocas onde a disponibilidade é maior e, assim, afetando o desenvolvimento econômico. As previsões sazonais servem de base para uma gestão e utilização sustentável dos recursos hídricos. A justificativa de não se usar critérios sazonais, talvez seja pelo fato de não existir trabalhos ou ferramentas que contemplam o estado da arte da regionalização hidrológica. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer a regionalização hidrológica do Estado de Santa Catarina, mediante uma abordagem geoestatística baseada em modelos e na sazonalidade. Foram utilizados estações pluviométricas e fluviométricas disponibilizadas, respectivamente, pela Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais (CPRM) e Agência Nacional das Águas (ANA). As estações são distribuídas regularmente e em alta densidade sobre o Estado. Para a modelagem geoestatística, inicialmente foi verificada algumas suposições a serem consideradas, entre elas, a normalidade e a estacionaridade espacial dos dados. Após as suposições terem sido aceitas foi verificado, por meio de testes estatísticos em função da verossimilhança, se a estrutura de dependência espacial do modelo geoestatístico aumentava o desempenho do mesmo, justificando o uso dessa estrutura para a espacialização das variáveis pluviométricas e fluviométricas. Para verificar os pressupostos de uma boa predição, foi avaliada a dispersão dos resíduos das interpolações espaciais, mediante uma validação cruzada. Os resultados mostraram um melhor desempenho para os modelos geoestatísticos com a estrutura de dependência espacial, para todas as variáveis; assim, esses modelos foram utilizados para a interpolação espacial, no qual foi observado pela dispersão dos resíduos uma boa predição. Este trabalho contribui para uma melhor representação espacial de variáveis sazonais no Estado de Santa Catarina e permite um avanço no estado da arte, uma vez que está embasado em critérios de verossimilhança para escolha de modelos que representam melhor o fenômeno estudado no espaço. / Hydrologic regionalization is a technique that allows the transfer of information from regions hydrologically monitored, for regions with little or no monitoring. Therefore, this technique allows a dynamic evaluation of water resources being a useful tool. In Brazil and in Santa Catarina state, the laws that are the main references for the management of water resources use annual criteria of water availability. Thus, using a greater amount of resources when availability is greater is infeasible and affects economic development. Seasonal forecasts provide the basis for sustainable management and use of water resources. The justification for not using seasonal criteria may be because there are no works or tools that contemplate the state of the art of hydrologic regionalization. The aim of this work is to make the hydrologic regionalization of Santa Catarina state, using a geostatistical approach based on models and in seasonality. Data from rain gauge and streamflow stations made available by the Mineral Resources Research Company (CPRM) and National Water Agency (ANA), respectively, were used. These stations have regular distribution and high density within the state. For the geostatistical modeling, some basic assumptions such as data normality and spatial stationarity were verified. After accepting the assumptions it was verified through statistical tests regarding its likelihood, if the structure of spatial dependence of the geostatistical model increase its performance, justifying the use of this structure for the precipitation and streamflow spatialization. To check the assumptions of good prediction, the residue dispersion of the spatial interpolations was evaluated through cross-validation. The results showed a better performance for the geostatiscal models with the spatial dependence structure, both for precipitation and streamflow. Thus, these models were used to the spatial interpolation, observing a good prediction through the residue dispersion. This work contributes to a better spatial representation of seasonal variables in Santa Catarina state and allows an advance in the state of the art, since it is based on likelihood criteria to choose models that better represent the phenomenon studied in space.
403

The law and policy governing inter-basin transfers of freshwater resources in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region

Sefela, Glenwin January 2011 (has links)
Magister Legum - LLM / Water scarcity is a worldwide threat. Fresh water resources are vital to human existence and survival. The challenge faced relates to the way these water resources are being distributed and managed. As an answer to this challenge, humans responded with what is commonly known as water transfers. A water transfer refers to the importation of water where water supply is low. Water transfers are, however, not a new concept as it dates back to the ancient Mesopotamians. Today, due to the global population having drastically increased, water transfers, or inter-basin transfers (IBTs) are increasingly being used as a means to minimize current water shortages.
404

Índice de sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos por meio do pensamento sistêmico no município de Promissão, SP / Sustainability index of water resources through systemic thought in the municipality of Promisión, SP / Índice de sostenibilidad de los recursos hídricos Pensamiento sistémico medio de la Promesa municipio, SP

Sachiavon, Adriana Rossi Barbosa [UNESP] 27 January 2017 (has links)
Submitted by ADRIANA ROSSI BARBOSA SCHIAVON null (adriana@unilins.edu.br) on 2017-03-18T14:02:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacaoFinalARBSFIM.pdf: 1877576 bytes, checksum: ff5b5a326dd1ad109ba66e4f26fc116e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-21T20:48:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 schiavon_arb_me_bot.pdf: 1877576 bytes, checksum: ff5b5a326dd1ad109ba66e4f26fc116e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T20:48:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 schiavon_arb_me_bot.pdf: 1877576 bytes, checksum: ff5b5a326dd1ad109ba66e4f26fc116e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-27 / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver um modelo em dinâmica de sistemas, propondo assim, uma ferramenta que permitisse a análise da sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos do município de Promissão, interior do estado de São Paulo. Este modelo para gestão de recursos hídricos auxiliará gestores da bacia hidrográfica do Córrego Gonzaga e à companhia municipal responsável pelo planejamento e gestão de sistema de abastecimento e distribuição de água tratada e esgotamento sanitário, à tomada de decisões com maior embasamento já que permite uma visão sistêmica do processo de abastecimento do município. Para desenvolver o modelo, foi utilizada a metodologia sistêmica que é uma ferramenta de grande valia para os gestores de recursos hídricos, pois permite a previsão de cenários futuros de abastecimento e tratamento de efluentes e viabiliza a elaboração e implementação de políticas públicas. O programa STELLA (Structural Thinking Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation), versão 9.1.3, foi utilizado para desenvolver o modelo dinâmico. Para elaboração e validação da mecânica do modelo desenvolvido, foram utilizados dados da atual gestão de recursos hídricos do município. O modelo desenvolvido foi o “Modelo de Recursos Hídricos de Promissão (MRH-PROMI)”. Para analisar a sustentabilidade dos recursos hídricos do município de Promissão através dos resultados gerados pelo MRH-PROMI, foram elaborados cinco cenários com situações adversas e analisou-se o comportamento dos elementos envolvidos no processo de Oferta e Demanda do município em cada situação. O modelo desenvolvido, permite que os gestores de água façam planejamentos para evitar os possíveis problemas relacionados ao novo cenário ou elaborem projetos com informações geradas pelo modelo para manutenção e melhoria do uso destes recursos. Para cada cenário calculou-se o índice de sustentabilidade (IS) que permitiu conhecer se os recursos hídricos se manteriam ou não sustentáveis no período de 2005 a 2050. Após a análise do comportamento das variáveis dos cinco cenários, concluiu-se que atualmente, os recursos hídricos do município de Promissão atende às suas demandas sustentavelmente apresentando um desempenho médio, utilizando cerca de 40% de sua capacidade. / This study aimed to develop a model usinf dynamic systems, thus proposing a tool that allows the analysis of water resources sustainability at Promissão, state of São Paulo. This water management model will help managers of the Gonzaga Stream watershed and the municipal company responsible for the management and distribution of treated water and sewage, to decision making with better basis as it allows a systemic view the municipality of supply process. To develop the model, systemic methodology was used which is a valuable tool for water resources managers, it allows the prediction of future scenarios of supply and wastewater treatment and enables the development and implementation of public policies. STELLA software (Structural Learning Laboratory Experimental Thinking with Animation), version 9.1.3, was used to develop the dynamic model. To design and mechanical validation of the developed model, the current water resources management in the municipality data were used. The model was the "Water Resources Model Promissão (WRM-PROMI)." To analyze the water resources sustainability Promissão municipality through the results generated by the MRH-PROMI were prepared five scenarios with adverse situations and analyzed the behavior of the elements involved in the offer process and municipal demand in every situation. The model allows water managers make plans to avoid potential problems related to the new scenario or develop projects with information generated by the model for maintaining and improving the use of these resources. For each scenario we calculated the sustainability index (SI) which allowed us to know if the water would continue or not sustainable in the period from 2005 to 2050. After analyzing the behavior of the variables of the five scenarios, it was concluded that currently, water resources Promissão municipality meets its demands sustainably with an average performance, using about 40% of its capacity.
405

Agricultura irrigada e o licenciamento ambiental / Irrigated agriculture and environmental licensing

Wulf Schmidt 19 October 2007 (has links)
A agricultura irrigada, como toda atividade antrópica, interfere no ambiente de diferentes modos: (i) a montante com as barragens, canais e linhas de transmissão; (ii) a jusante pela quantidade e qualidade da água liberada que afeta a todos os usuários, do ser humano à flora e fauna; e (iii) no perímetro irrigado com o uso intensivo de agroquímicos, e processos de escorrimento superficial e erosão. Por tudo isto o licenciamento ambiental da agricultura irrigada é obrigatória e definida por lei, e envolve o processo de outorga de uso de água e o licenciamento ambiental propriamente dito. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar os critérios adotados referentes aos processos de licenciamento ambiental dos projetos de irrigação, com ênfase nos processos de outorga segundo as normas estabelecidas pela ANA, e nos estados de São Paulo, Goiás, e Minas Gerais. A análise das informações mostra divergências entre os processos, com falta de parâmetros e critérios definidos em nível nacional e falta de informações básicas para muitas regiões. Conclui-se que a agricultura irrigada pelo seu caráter de atividade intensiva é impactante ao meio, não apenas pelo consumo de água e resíduos de agroquímicos, mas também pela geração de empregos, alimentos e como potencial filtro de água. Como atividade impactante é preciso ser licenciada para poder ser gerida e o recurso água poder estar disponível em quantidade e qualidade a todos os seus usuários. Para que o licenciamento seja justo, ele precisa ter critérios e parâmetros claros, definidos e uniformes para todo o território nacional. Para que estes parâmetros possam ser definidos, é fundamental que as informações necessárias à sua obtenção, existam e estejam gratuitamente disponíveis. Aos legisladores cabe fundamentar junto a comunidade científica os parâmetros a serem definidos no processo de licenciamento, de modo que possam apresentar equilíbrio entre os seus fundamentos, evitando distorções, mas preservando ao objetivo maior que é o da sustentabilidade ambiental. O processo de licenciamento ambiental de São Paulo e Minas, mostram-se como um modelo, embora com pontos de melhorias, às demais unidades da federação, face a sua simplicidade sem omissão, a sua coerência entre a área de recurso hídrico e a área ambiental, sem perder contudo, a sua independência na tomada de decisão. Este processo só é possível nestes estados pelo volume de informações disponíveis. Linhas de financiamento específicas para manutenção, reforma e implantação de barramentos contribuiriam muito para o aumento da disponibilidade hídrica na maioria das bacias hidrográficas pelo sua característica reguladora de vazão e de abastecedora de aqüíferos pelo maior tempo de infiltração. / Irrigated agriculture, as any human activity, interfere in the environment in several ways: (I) upstream through dams, channels and electric main lines; (ii) downstream with the amount and quality of remaining water that affects all users, from humans to flora and fauna; and (iii) at irrigated perimeter by intensive use of agrichemicals and run of and erosion processes. Because of this, environment licensing for irrigated crop is an obligation defined by law, and involve water use licensing and environment licensing itself. Present job has the objective to analyze the criteria adopted by the licensing processes for irrigated agriculture, emphasizing those points related to water use right, according to the rules established by ANA , and the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Information analysis had shown discrepancies among the processes, with an absence of parameters and criteria defined for national level and lack of basic information in several regions. It was concluded that irrigated agriculture as an intensive activity is environmental impacting, not only for water consumption and chemical residues, but also for creating job positions, food production and potential water filter. As in impacting activity should be licensed, to be managed and water resource be available in amount and quality for all communities downstream. To be fair, licensing must have clear and defined parameters and criteria for all country. For those parameters to be defined, it is fundamental that basic information to obtain them exist and is available for free. Legislators should fundament their parameters in close to the scientific community, and so define criteria?s in a balance to avoid distortions, but preserving main target which is environmental sustainability. The environmental licensing process of São Paulo and Minas, are shown as a model, beside improvement points, to the rest of the states, face to it simplicity with no omission, coherence between water resource and environmental areas, without loosing making decision independence. This process only is possible in those states due to the amount of information available. Specific credit lines for maintenance, reformation and building of dams would contribute a lot for the increase of water availability due to their flow regulation characteristic and aquifer supplier because of bigger infiltration opportunity time.
406

Using Kriging, Cokriging, and GIS to Visualize Fe and Mn in Groundwater

Johnson, Crystal 01 May 2015 (has links)
For aesthetic, economic, and health-related reasons, allowable concentrations of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) found present in drinking water are 0.3 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L, respectively. Water samples taken from private drinking wells in the rural communities within Buncombe County, North Carolina contain amounts of these metals in concentrations higher than the suggested limits. This study focused on bedrock geology, elevation, saprolite thickness, and well depth to determine factors affecting Fe and Mn. Using ArcGIS 10.2, spatial trends in Fe and Mn concentrations ranges were visualized, and estimates of the metal concentrations were interpolated to unmonitored areas. Results from this analysis were used to create a map that delineates the actual spatial distribution of Fe and Mn. The study also established a statistically significant correlation between Fe and Mn concentrations, which can be attributed to bedrock geology. Additionally, higher Fe in groundwater was concentrated in shallower wells and valley areas.
407

Perspectives on Policy Framework for Trans-Boundary Water Quality Management in China

Zhang, Wei, Zhen, Gengchong, Tong, Yindong, Yang, Lei, Zhu, Yan, Liu, Guohua, Wang, Xuejun, Li, Ying 02 April 2016 (has links)
In river basins that cross jurisdictional boundaries, water quality degradation has become a crucial problem and results in intensive competition among water users, especially in developing countries. Under this situation, implementing water quality management and control across jurisdictional boundaries can strengthen watershed pollution controls, and prevent pollution from being passed on and promote active pollution control within the related jurisdictional regions. This study examined the limitations of the current trans-boundary water quality management system in China and reviewed the planning and implementation of two pilot integrated trans-boundary water management systems established in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Based on our findings, we proposed a new policy framework for trans-boundary water quality management. As a first step toward integrated watershed management in China, this policy framework can help assess the actual water pollution status of various regions and serve as a basis for an integrated watershed management system. The framework can be easily applied in other countries with trans-boundary water pollution issues, particularly in the context of developing countries.
408

Vulnerability Assessment of Groundwater to NO3 Contamination Using GIS, DRASTIC Model and Geostatistical Analysis

Adu Agyemang, Adela Beauty 01 August 2017 (has links)
The study employed Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to investigate the vulnerability of groundwater to NO3 content in Buncombe County, North Carolina in two different approaches. In the first study, the spatial distribution of NO3 contamination was analyzed in a GIS environment using Kriging Interpolation. Cokriging interpolation was used to establish how NO3 relates to land cover types and depth to water table of wells in the county. The second study used DRASTIC model to assess the vulnerability of groundwater in Buncombe County to NO3 contamination. To get an accurate vulnerability index, the DRASTIC parameters were modified to fit the hydrogeological settings of the county. A final vulnerability map was created using regression based DRASTIC, a statistic method to measure how NO3 relates to each of the DRASTIC variables. Although the NO3 concentration in the county didn’t exceed the USEPA standard limit (10mg/L), some areas had NO3 as high as 8.5mg/L.
409

An Assessment of the EMAS Pump and its Potential for Use in Household Water Systems in Uganda

Carpenter, Jacob Daniel 01 May 2014 (has links)
Rural improved water supply coverage in Uganda has stagnated around 64% for a number of years and at this point more than 10 million rural people do not have access to an improved drinking water source. It has been recognized that progress toward improved water supply coverage and increased service levels may be gained through Government and nongovernmental organization (NGO) support of private investment in household and shared water supplies, commonly known as Self-supply. Self-supply can be promoted by introducing and building local capacity in appropriate and affordable water supply technologies such as hand-dug wells, manually drilled boreholes, low-cost pumps, and rainwater harvesting. Support can also be focused on technical support, marketing, financing, and strategic subsidies that promote and enhance user investment. The Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment has embraced Self-supply as a complementary part of its water supply strategy while government and NGO programs that support Self-supply have emerged. The EMAS Pump is a low-cost handpump appropriate for use in household water systems in the developing world. There are more than 20,000 in use in Bolivia, with many constructed through Self-supply. The EMAS Pump is constructed from simple materials costing about $US 10-30, depending largely on installation depth, and can be fabricated with simple tools in areas with no electricity. The EMAS Pump is used with low-cost groundwater sources such as hand-dug wells and manually drilled boreholes or with underground rainwater storage tanks. It can lift water from 30 m or more below ground and pump water with pressure overland or to an elevated tank. The objectives of this research were to conduct an assessment of the EMAS Pump that considers pumping rates, required energy, and associated costs, to characterize the EMAS Pump for its potential for use in household water systems in Uganda, and to make relevant recommendations. The potential of the EMAS Pump was assessed through testing its use with 2 subject participants (male and female) on wells of 5.1 m, 12.6 m, 17.0 m, 18.4 m, 21.1 m, and 28.3 m static water levels as part of a side-by-side comparative assessment with the Family Model version of the Rope Pump, a more widely known low-cost handpump that has recently been introduced and promoted in Uganda. Shallow and deep versions of each pump were tested on selected wells for 40-liter pumping trials. The status and feasibility of low-cost groundwater development and underground storage tanks were also explored in order to help characterize the potential of the EMAS Pump as an option for low-cost household water systems in Uganda. In general, it was observed that the EMAS Pump performed comparably to the Rope Pump in terms of pumping rates for shallow depths, but the Rope Pump outperformed it on deeper wells. It was determined that the EMAS Pump required more energy for pumping during nearly all trials. A study of relevant supply chains in Uganda concluded that the EMAS pump has a material cost that is less than 50% of the Rope Pump for most applications and 21% of the cost for shallow wells. It was also determined that the EMAS Pump could feasibly be produced nearly anywhere in the country. There are indications that low-cost wells and underground rainwater tanks are applicable in many parts of Uganda and could be paired with an EMAS Pump to achieve significant affordability for Self-supply household water systems. Recommendations are provided in terms of the feasibility of introducing the EMAS Pump as a part of Self-supply strategy in Uganda.
410

SPATIAL ESTIMATION OF HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES IN STRUCTURED SOILS AT THE FIELD SCALE

Zhang, Xi 01 January 2019 (has links)
Improving agricultural water management is important for conserving water during dry seasons, using limited water resources in the most efficient way, and minimizing environmental risks (e.g., leaching, surface runoff). The understanding of water movement in different zones of agricultural production fields is crucial to developing an effective irrigation strategy. This work centered on optimizing field water management by characterizing the spatial patterns of soil hydraulic properties. Soil hydraulic conductivity was measured across different zones in a farmer’s field, and its spatial variability was investigated by using geostatistical techniques. Since direct measurement of hydraulic conductivity is time-consuming and arduous, pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) have been developed to estimate hydraulic conductivity indirectly through more easily measurable soil properties. Due to ignoring soil structural information and spatial covariance between soil variables, PTFs often perform unsatisfactorily when field-scale estimations of hydraulic conductivity are needed. The performance of PTFs in estimating hydraulic conductivity in the field was therefore critically evaluated. Due to the presence of structural macro-pores, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) showed high spatial heterogeneity, and this variability was not captured by texture-dominated PTF estimates. However, the general spatial pattern of near-saturated hydraulic conductivity can still be reasonably generated by PTF estimates. Therefore, the hydraulic conductivity maps based on PTF estimates should be evaluated carefully and handled with caution. Recognizing the significant contribution of macro-pores to saturated water flow, PTFs were further improved by including soil macro-porosity and were proven to perform much better in estimating Ks compared with established PTFs tested in this study. Additionally, the spatial relationship between hydraulic conductivity and its potential influencing factors were further quantified by the state-space approach. State-space models outperformed current PTFs and effectively described the spatial characteristics of hydraulic conductivity in the studied field. These findings provided a basis for modeling water/solute transport in the vadose zone, and sitespecific water management.

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