Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most common turfgrass used on golf course putting greens in the southeastern United States (Lyman et al., 2007). In 2013, the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) started a 5-year trial of warm-season putting green cultivars. One of the bermudagrass cultivars in the study is MSB-285 (experimental cultivar). MSB-285 is a sister plant of MSB-264 (Philley and Munshaw, 2011) and is a distinct cultivar of C. dactylon × C. transvaalensis. MSB-285 has a more extensive root system and upright growth habit than traditional bermudagrass putting green cultivars (Philley and Munshaw, 2011). Due to MSB-285’s unique genetic makeup and growth habit, the objectives of this research were to determine if best management practices used to maintain ultradwarf bermudagrasses would be suitable for MSB-285 and to determine the water-use characteristics of MSB-285 compared to industry standard cultivars.

M.Tech. (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology / Petroleum wastewater is highly contaminated with toxic organic pollutants that are harmful to the environment. The heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation (HPO) process has shown the ability to remove these pollutants through the application of a fluidized bed reactor (FBR). The purpose of the study was to apply response surface modelling (RSM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize the operating conditions for the photodegradation process in an FBR. This was done by investigating the hydrodynamics, photodegradation efficiency and reaction kinetics; that gave a holistic view on the performance of the FBR. The hydrodynamic study focused on modelling the axial liquid velocity, gas hold-up and turbulence quantities due to their substantial impact on the design and performance of the FBR. This was done by implementing the Eulerian-Eulerian approach which solves the continuity and momentum equations for each phase. In addition, the standard k-ε turbulence model was used to capture the turbulent characteristics in the liquid phase. A numerical optimization technique (desirability) was used to determine the optimal simulation setting methods; that were found to be a fine grid size (500 000 cells), 2nd Order Upwind discretization scheme and a small time step size (0.001) and gave the best desirability (0.985). The axial liquid velocity was maximal towards the centre of the reactor and decreased towards the wall. The same trend was seen with the local gas hold-up, where it was high towards the centre and low near the wall region. This was an indication that the bubbles tended to gather towards the central region as they move up. Furthermore, the bubbles had a spherical–like shape due to the low superficial gas velocity and operating within the homogeneous regime. The turbulent kinetic energy increased at distances away from the distributor region, due to the bubbles accelerating, and it balanced well with the energy introduced by the bubbles. Central composite design (CCD), which is a type of response surface modelling technique, was used to investigate and optimize the photodegradation operating parameters. The maximal degradation efficiency in the current study was found to be 65.9%, which was relatively low when compared to literature (80.84%). This was attributed to the increase in the catalyst particle size from nanometer to micrometer. Furthermore, the second-order empirical model that was developed, using the analysis of variance (ANOVA), presented a sufficient correlation to the photodegradation experimental data. The optimal photodegradation operating conditions were found to be: superficial gas velocity of 17.32 mm/s, composite catalyst loading of 1.0 g/L, initial pH level of 3.5 and reaction time being 210 min. Using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, it was found that the photocatalytic degradation of petroleum wastewater follows pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. Since the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of phenol follows three stages whereby the second stage is the photocatalytic degradation on the surface of the catalyst to form by-products. This is the rate dominant stage and follows the pseudo firstorder reaction kinetics.

Sulfide soils are silty soils, often found in saturated conditions, under the groundwater level. Characteristics of these soils, including particle size distribution and consistency limits along with chemical composition and environmental properties, cause excavation to be necessary for construction purposes. The excavated sulfide soil usually is transported and deposited in landfills. These soils are either deposited in saturated conditions or chemical buffers are added to the soil to prevent acidification. Special conditions of these landfills complicate the disposal procedure and the landfill maintenance which makes those financially expensive. Reusing sulfide soil in construction is a solution to reduce the expenses related to the management of sulfide soils. Since the mechanical properties of these soils are not suitable for construction purposes, the first step is to improve soil characteristics to the level that fulfills the needs of construction applications. One solution to improve the mechanical properties of the soil is adding a binder to the soil. The main focus of the research was to improve the mechanical properties of soil. The research activities were divided into two parts. The first part was conducted in a laboratory environment to develop mixtures, while the second focused on transferring the results to field conditions. The laboratory tests included mixing soil and binder i.e., cement was added to the soil at different percentages to evaluate the soil improvement. An unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was conducted on the stabilized sample to evaluate the efficiency of the stabilization. The resultsof UCS for the stabilized samples were compared. Since the soil contains a high amount of water, the traditional sample preparation was not suitable. Therefore, an alternative method was developed and evaluated. Moreover, the effect of curing time on the strength and consistency limit of stabilized samples was evaluated. At last, the effect of different variables, including porosity, binder content and initial water content, on the UCS of soil was investigated to identify potential correlation between UCS and different soil variables. The results of the tests showed that adding a binder, regardless of the type of sulfide soil, positively affects the UCS of prepared samples and increasing the curing time increased the UCS of the samples. At higher cement content, the effect of curing time was more significant. Also, it was shown that at higher water content, the effect of binder is lower in comparison with the same soil at lower water content. By lowering the water content, the strength of stabilized soil reaches a maximum and drying further the soil, below the optimum water content, led to strength reduction. A correlation between UCS of sample and porosity/binder ratio was employed to predict the strength behavior of stabilized soil based on variables such as porosity, initial water content and binder dosage. In order to evaluate if laboratory results can be applied to geotechnical applications, the second part of this research included a field mixing experiment for a large-scale mixture of soil and cement. The effect of the mixing procedure with common equipment on the homogeneity of industrial-size mixture was investigated. A sampling strategy for collecting representative samples of mixture was selected and assessed. the number of mixing steps and the effect of binder dosage on the uniformity of samples were studied. Results of UCS of samples prepared from field and laboratory mixture were compared and evaluated. A field evaluation was conducted to determine the quality of the mixture and how many mixing steps are required to reduce variability between samples. Two different percentages of binder were added to the 5 Tons of soil. The UCS test samples were prepared from the soil-cement mixture in the same way as they were prepared in the laboratory and cured for a specific time. The UCS test was conducted on cured samples. The test results were compared to evaluate the mixture homogeneity in the field. The results showed that homogeneous mixtures can be obtained in the field with the available equipment. Assessing the sampling strategy showed that increasing the sampling sections from 5 to 12 and preparing single UCS sample from the collected soil provides representative samples from the soil mixture pile. Additionally, it was shown that by increasing mixing steps from 2 to 3, it was possible to eliminate samples with notable lower strength than average UCS. A greater number of mixing steps improves homogeneity while reducing the average UCS. It was found that mixing soil and binder in the laboratory improves strength better than mixing them in the field. When applying laboratory results to field design, this point must be taken into account.

Severe flooding events in recent years have underlined the importance of accurate hydrological modelling in urban areas. There are many important parameters relating to both the rainfall distribution and properties of the land on which the rain falls that controls the impacts of the rain event. While the importance of input parameters such as initial water content, topography and extent of hardened surfaces is widely known, their impact on hydrological response in urban areas is not thoroughly understood. In 2017, scientists from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SMHI, presented five empirical hyetographs based on long-term Swedish municipal rain data (Olsson, et al., 2017). The hyetographs vary in location of peak and distribution of intensity. Olsson (2019) evaluated the hydrological response in terms of water depth of the hyetographs in relation to Chicago Design Storm (CDS), a common design storm used in Swedish hydrological modelling, and found that CDS nearly always overestimates the hydrological response in comparison to the empirical hyetographs, meaning historical rainfall intensity distributions, developed by SMHI.  The aim of this thesis is to analyse the robustness of empirical hyetographs by conducting a sensitivity analysis of a generic urban model with a variation of input parameters. A statistical analysis of data on hardened surfaces, topography and initial water content was conducted to find the median, 5th and 95th percentile respectively of the range of values in Swedish conditions. These values were applied to a synthetic urban model and run together with the five empirical hyetographs and CDS in MIKE 21. The results indicate that the empirical hyetographs are not very robust relating to variations in infiltration capacity (initial water content and amount of hardened areas), while they are more robust when varying the topography. The variation of topography also resulted in large variations in water depth, time to peak and extent of flooded area, while variation of initial water content and amount of hardened surfaces had smaller, although still clear, effects. Furthermore, the results show that hyetographs with a late peak are more sensitive to variations in initial water content and hardened surfaces than hyetographs with an early peak. On average, CDS estimates the response in comparison to the empirical hyetographs accurately, with an average overestimation of 0.5%, but does not capture the range and complexity of the empirical hyetographs. Including the frequency of the different hyetographs, CDS gave an overestimation of 5% compared to the empirical hyetographs. The highlight the uncertainty in using CDS as input for urban cloudburst modelling, but limitations in form of catchment properties in a study area and the importance of the input values limits the generability of the study. / De senaste årens allvarliga översvämningshändelser har understrukit vikten av noggrann hydrologisk modellering i stadsområden. Även om betydelsen av parametrar som initial vattenmättnad, topografi och andelen hårdgjorda ytor är allmänt känd, är deras inverkan på urban hydrodynamisk modellering inte helt klarlagd. Under 2017 presenterade forskare från Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut, SMHI, fem empiriska hyetografer baserade på långvariga kommunala regndata (Olsson et al., 2017). Hyetograferna varierar i fördelning av intensitet och tidsmässig placering av maxintensitet. Olsson (2019) utvärderade hyetografernas hydrologiska respons i relation till Chicago Design Storm (CDS), en vanlig designstorm som används i svensk hydrologisk modellering, och fann att CDS nästan alltid överskattar responsen i jämförelse med de empiriska hyetograferna.  Syftet med detta examensarbete är att analysera robustheten hos de empiriska hyetograferna genom att utföra en känslighetsanalys av en generisk stadsmodell med en variation av ingångsparametrar. En statistisk analys av data om hårdgjorda ytor, topografi och initial vattenmättnad genomfördes för att hitta median, 5:e respektive 95:e percentilen av värdena i svenska förhållanden. Dessa värden applicerades på en generisk stadsmodell och kördes tillsammans med de fem empiriska hyetograferna och CDS i MIKE 21. Resultaten indikerar att de empiriska hyetograferna inte är helt robusta vad gäller variationer i infiltrationskapacitet (initial vattenmättnad och andel hårdgjorda ytor), medan de är mer robusta vid variation av topografin. Variationen av topografi resulterade också i stora variationer i vattendjup, tid till maxflöde och utbredning av översvämmat område, medan variation av initial vattenmättnad och mängden hårdgjorda ytor hade mindre, men fortfarande tydliga, effekter. Vidare visar resultaten att hyetografer med sen topp är känsligare för variationer i initial vattenhalt och hårdgjorda ytor än hyetografer med tidig topp. I genomsnitt uppskattar CDS responsen från de empiriska hyetograferna korrekt, med en genomsnittlig överskattning på 0.5%, men fångar inte omfånget och komplexiteten hos de empiriska hyetograferna. Inräknat frekvensen av de olika hyetograferna gav CDS en överskattning på 5 % jämfört med de empiriska hyetograferna. Resultaten belyser osäkerheterna i att använda CDS regn som drivdata i skyfallsmodelleringar för stadsplanering, men begränsningar i form av markegenskaper i ett enskilt studieområde och vikten av modellens initialvärden begränsar dock generaliteten för studien.

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Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Robert M. Aiken / Mary B. Kirkham / Transpiration efficiency (TE) is defined as total biomass produced per unit of water transpired. Improvement of TE means maximizing crop production per unit of water used. The objectives of the study were to examine, at the leaf level and the whole plant level, the variation in TE for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] accessions, previously screened for TE and to test physiological mechanisms that may account for differences in TE. Three field studies and two mini-lysimeter studies (one done in pots under greenhouse conditions and one done in pots in the field) were conducted with eight accessions. Instantaneous measurements of assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration by gas exchange provided measures of the transpiration efficiency at the leaf level. Growth observations and soil water balance in field plots quantified components of whole-plant TE. Growth and development measurements showed significant difference, explaining the existence of photoperiod sensitivity among the sorghum genotypes. Assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were consistently greater for accession PI533946 (from India) and greater for accession PI295121 (from Australia) in both field and the field-pot studies (p<0.05). Internal carbon dioxide (Ci), an indicator of intrinsic transpiration efficiency, differed among lines under field conditions (p<0.05). Leaf relative water content (RWC), measured in the greenhouse, and did not differ among the eight accessions. No consistent differences in biomass and water use were detected among lines under field conditions. In conclusion, developing reliable selection indices for TE will require a greater understanding of whole-plant physiological processes to utilize the differences in TE observed at the leaf level.

Le mouvement d’humidité dans le réseau poreux de certains matériaux est très souvent à l’origine de phénomènes préjudiciables pour la durabilité des constructions du génie civil. C’est en particulier le cas pour le séchage du bois, générateur de fissures et de délaminations aux interfaces de collage, et pour le béton en situation d’incendie où le mouvement d’humidité peut induire des désordres irréversibles (écaillage). Le recours à des modèles prédictifs de ruine des structures nécessite donc la simulation du mouvement d’humidité au sein des matériaux. Ces modèles de transfert de masse et de chaleur sont sophistiqués et nécessitent d’être confrontés à des mesures afin d’être validés. Peu de techniques expérimentales existent pour mesurer les mouvements ou gradients d’humidité dans les réseaux poreux, en particulier en régime transitoire (séchage, incendie). Les techniques existantes sont de plus généralement coûteuses et imposent des conditions sévères de sécurité pour les chercheurs. L’objectif de la thèse est donc de mettre au point un dispositif de mesure de gradients d’humidité basé sur l’imagerie Térahertz. Il s’agit d’une technique de mesure relativement peu onéreuse et permettant de réaliser des mesures en régime transitoire. Un banc expérimental existant sera donc adapté à la mesure du champ d’humidité sur éprouvettes de bois en conditions thermo-hydriques variables, et sur éprouvettes de béton en situation de chauffage. Les résultats constitueront une base de données utile à la compréhension des phénomènes de dégradation des matériaux et seront directement utilisables comme outil de validation de modèles de calcul. / The movement of moisture in the porous network of certain materials is very often at the origin of phenomena prejudicial to the durability of the constructions of the civil engineering. This is particularly the case for the drying of wood, which creates cracks and delaminations at bonding interfaces, and for concrete in situations of fire where the movement of moisture can induce irreversible disorders (chipping). The use of predictive models of structural ruin therefore requires the simulation of the moisture movement within the materials. These mass and heat transfer models are sophisticated and need to be confronted with measurements in order to be validated. Few experimental techniques exist to measure moisture movements or gradients in porous networks, especially in transient conditions (drying, fire). Existing techniques are often expensive and impose severe conditions of safety for the researchers. The objective of the thesis is therefore to develop a device for measuring gradients of moisture based on Terahertz imagery. This is a comparatively inexpensive measuring technique and makes it possible to carry out transient measurements. An existing experimental bench will therefore be adapted to the measurement of the moisture field on wood specimens under variable water-moisture conditions and on concrete specimens in a heating situation. The results will constitute a database useful for understanding the phenomena of degradation of materials and will be directly usable as a validation tool for calculation models.

Sendo a condutividade hidráulica do solo um parâmetro que traduz a facilidade com que a água se movimenta ao longo do perfil de solo, sua determinação, principalmente no campo, torna-se imprescindível, visto que o movimento da água no solo está diretamente relacionado à produção das culturas agrícolas. Com isso, a aplicação de um método confiável que quantifique a condutividade hidráulica versus umidade, a função ( ) q K , certamente contribuirá muito para uma correta avaliação dos resultados, principalmente tendo em conta a grande variabilidade dessa função devido à variabilidade natural das características do solo. Neste trabalho, testou-se o método do perfil instantâneo com o objetivo de avaliar a função ( ) q K com e sem a suposição de gradiente unitário e também o seu comportamento com relação aos os horizontes pedológicos do solo. A determinação da função foi feita usando tensiômetros com manômetros de mercúrio instalados às profundidades de 0,1; 0,2; 0,3; 0,4; 0,5; 0,6; 0,7; 0,8; 0,9; 1,0; 1,1 e 1,2 m e curvas de retenção determinadas para as mesmas profundidades, num Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico argissólico A moderado textura média, localizado no campo experimental da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo. A análise dos resultados foi feita pelo teste F de análise de variância, a fim de testar o paralelismo, a igualdade dos interceptos e a coincidência entre as retas lnK versus q, considerando e não considerando a suposição do gradiente unitário. Além disso, foram feitos também testes de similaridade da função ( ) q K de cada profundidade do solo pelo índice de concordância de Willmott (1981). Com base na análise dos resultados pode-se dizer que, com os procedimentos utilizados de delimitação da área para inundação e redistribuição da água, podem ser empregados modelos simples que consideram unitário o gradiente de potencial total e que, pela comparação feita entre as profundidades, a separação do perfil do solo em horizontes pedológicos parece seguir a separação em camadas com funções ( ) q K semelhantes, apenas a partir da profundidade 0,6 m. / The soil hydraulic conductivity is a parameter that quantifies the ability of the soil to conduct water along the soil profile. Hence its field determination is indispensable, since soil water movement is directly related to the field crop productions. Thus, the use of an adequate method that assesses the hydraulic conductivity as a function of soil-water content, the ( ) q K function, certainly will very contribute to a proper evaluation of results, mainly if it is considered the great variability of this function as a result of the natural variability of the soil characteristics. In this work, the instantaneous profile method was tested with the objective to evaluate a) the ( ) q K function taking and not taking into consideration the assumption of unit gradient and b) the behaviour of the ( ) q K function with respect to the pedological horizons of the soil. The determination of the function was made using mercury manometer tensiometers installed at the depths of 0.1; 0.2; 0.3; 0.4; 0.5; 0.6; 0.7; 0.8; 0.9; 1.0; 1.1 and 1.2 m and soil water retention curves determined for the same depths, in an Oxisol, located at experimental fields of Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University de São Paulo, in Piracicaba (SP), Brasil (22 o 42’ 43,3’’ W and 47 o 37’ 10,4’’ S). The result analysis was made using an F-test in order to verify the paralelism, the intercept equality and the coincidence of the lnK versus q straight lines, taking and not taking account of the assumption of unit hydraulic gradient. Basides, similarity tests of the ( ) q K function were also made by the Willmott (1981) index. From the analysis of results, it could be concluded that, with the procedures used to delimit the experimental plots in this experiment to water the soil profile and to follow the water redistribuition, the unit gradient approches seem to be adequate to assess the field ( ) q K function and also that the pedological horizons seem to follow the layers of similar ( ) q K function, for depths greater than 0.6 m.

Avaliar o estado hídrico das plantas é essencial para o monitoramento das culturas agrícolas e florestais. A interação da radiação eletromagnética com as plantas é um processo estudado por sensoriamento remoto (SR). Através da técnica de SR é possível interpretar os fatores que influenciam na quantidade de energia absorvida, transmitida e refletida pela planta. Neste estudo, buscou-se estabelecer as relações existentes entre variações nos parâmetros da água com o comportamento espectral e gerar modelos matemáticos que sejam capazes de predizer o conteúdo relativo da água (CRA) e espessura equivalente da água (EEA) em 11 diferentes espécies de Eucalyptus, utilizando um sensor hiperespectral. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da pesagem e respectiva leitura espectral das folhas, sendo que estas passaram por uma metodologia de desidratação. Tal metodologia permitiu encontrar uma diferença de reflectância média de 26% entre o máximo e mínimo teor de água na folha, provando a influência do CRA no comportamento espectral, sendo a água um dos fatores de maior domínio na reflectância na região do infravermelho médio (1300nm - 2500nm). A partir das curvas espectrais foi possível avaliar que os comprimentos de onda próximo ao 1400 nm e 1900 nm foram os mais sensíveis ao conteúdo de água. A análise de componentes principais permitiu reforçar estes resultados, uma vez que as pontuações (scores) dos componentes que apresentaram correlações significativas com o CRA tiveram maiores pesos (loadings) nas regiões espectrais citadas anteriormente. A partir das respostas espectrais também foram realizados os cálculos dos índices espectrais já descritos em literatura, e estes submetidos a análise de regressão simples para predição do CRA e EEA. O índice espectral calculado com a combinação de bandas do infravermelho médio (1300nm e 1450nm) foi o que apresentou melhores resultados ao predizer os parâmetros da água, sendo que o SR1300,1450 teve um R2=0,72 para o CRA e R2=0,81 para o EEA. Os dados espectrais foram correlacionados com os parâmetros da água, e encontrou-se que para o CRA o comprimento de onda 1881 nm apresentou um coeficiente de correlação máximo negativo de r= -0,89, enquanto que o EEA apresentou um coeficiente de correlação máximo negativo de r= -0,79 no comprimento de onda 2165 nm. Foram testados três métodos de seleção das variáveis hiperespectrais para gerar um modelo matemático por meio de uma regressão linear. Para o parâmetro CRA, o método de seleção de variáveis stepwise foi o que gerou o maior (R2= 0,86) e um RMSE = 13,85%, sendo que neste método restaram apenas seis variáveis preditoras. Enquanto que o método de seleção de variáveis pelas regiões do espectro foi o mais preciso ao predizer o parâmetro EEA, com um R2= 0,87 e um RMSE = 0,00012 g/cm2, sendo necessárias apenas 5 variáveis espectrais. / The hydric condition assessment of plants is essential for monitoring agricultural and forest cultures. The interaction of electromagnetic radiation with plants is a process studied by remote sensing. Through this technique it is possible to interpret the factors that plays influence on the quantity of energy absorbed, transmitted and reflected by the plant. In this study was sought the establishment of existing relations between variations on the water parameters and the spectral behavior and then to generate mathematical models capable of predictiong the relative water content (RWC) and equivalent water thickness (EWT) among 11 different Eucalyptus species using a hyperespectral sensor. The data was obtained through weighting followed by reflectance readings of leaves in which the leaves had gone through a dehydrating methodology. The dehydrating methodology allowed finding a average reflectance difference of 26% between the maximum and the minimum water content on the leaf, proving the influence of the RWC in the spectral behavior in which the water plays great influence in the medium infrared reflectance region (1300 nm - 2500 nm). From the spectral curves it was possible to conclude that the wavelengths near 1400 nm and 1900 nm were the most sensitive to the water content. The principal content analyses reinforced these results once the scores of the components that showed significant relations with the RWC had the bigger loadings in the mentioned spectral regions. Spectral indices already described in literature were calculated using the spectral responses and their results were submitted to a simple regression for predicting RWC and EWT. The spectral index calculated by the combination of medium infrared (1300 nm and 1450 nm) was the one which had better results when prediction water parameters in which SR... had an R2=0,72 for RWC and R2=0,81 for EWT The spectral data was correlated to the water parameters and it was observed that for the RWC at 1881 nm showed a maximum negative coefficient of correlation of r=-0,89 whereas the EWT showed a maximum negative coefficient of correlation of r=-0,79 at 2165 nm. Three selection methods were tested for the hyperespectral variables in order to generate a mathematical model through linear regression. For the RWC parameter, the selection method of stepwise variables was the one which generated and R2=0,86 and a RSMSE = 13,85%. For this method just 6 predicting variables were left. While the variables selection method by spectral regions was the most precise when predicting the EWTparameter with a R2 = 0,87 and a RMSE = 0,00012 g/cm2 being just 5 spectral variables necessary.

Vários trabalhos relacionados ao tema produção de água estão sendo realizados, tendo em comum a associação da cobertura florestal com o escoamento em bacias hidrográficas. Entretanto, não existem estudos onde foram verificados os locais onde esta cobertura tem efeito ótimo, pois, este é dependente das condições edafoclimáticas de cada bacia. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar as alterações na produção de água ocasionadas pela posição das áreas com cobertura florestal em relação às de solos rasos em uma bacia hidrográfica. Os estudos foram realizados na Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão dos Marins em Piracicaba, SP, Brasil, por meio da modelagem hidrológica utilizando o modelo distribuído GSSHA. Para a calibração foram utilizados dados meteorológicos, fluviométricos e pluviométricos dos anos de 1999 e 2000, além da obtenção, em laboratório, da condutividade hidráulica e da curva de retenção dos solos da bacia. Foram realizadas sondagens SPT e testes de infiltração de água no solo para determinar a espessura dos solos na bacia e a condutividade hidráulica da zona saturada (lençol freático) desta. A espessura dos solos foi representada por um modelo numérico, elaborado a partir das espessuras medidas e da utilização do modelo HAND. A profundidade do lençol freático foi representada por outro modelo numérico, elaborado a partir da espessura do solo e da profundidade deste lençol medida em campo. Uma nova metodologia que, a partir do coeficiente CN, estima o coeficiente de rugosidade de Manning foi utilizada, apresentando resultados satisfatórios. Nos processos de calibração e validação o modelo apresentou coeficientes de índices de correlação adequados. Foram feitas simulações hidrológicas para 15 anos em três cenários de uso e ocupação do solo, que foram elaborados de modo a comparar uma mesma área de cobertura florestal em diferentes posições da bacia, em função da presença de solos rasos nas proximidades dos cursos d\'água. Foram analisados, entre os cenários para todo o período simulado: o escoamento total e o de base; parâmetros dos hidrogramas (em eventos selecionados da série histórica); posição do lençol freático; umidade do solo; e, curva de permanência. Os resultados permitiram concluir que na área de estudo não há influência da posição da cobertura florestal em relação aos solos rasos para a produção de água. Devido à existência de poucos trabalhos a campo e, também, de modelagem que abordem o efeito da localização da cobertura florestal na produção de água, incentiva-se a realização de novas pesquisas, necessárias, entre outras razões, para a determinação dos locais prioritários a reflorestar ou manter florestado em programas de conservação ambiental. / Several works related to the theme of water production are being made, having in common the association of forest cover with runoff in watersheds. However, no studies were found where the places where this land cover has optimum effect, because it is dependent on climatic and physiographic conditions of each watershed. The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in water yield caused by the spatial distribution of forest cover in relation to the shallow soils in a watershed. The studies were conducted in the watershed \"Ribeirão dos Marins\" in Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, through the hydrologic modeling using the distributed model GSSHA. For calibration were used data of meteorological, rainfall and stream flow to the years 1999 and 2000, in addition of the hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention curve obtained in laboratory. SPT tests and water infiltration tests were conducted to determine the thickness of the soils and hydraulic conductivity of the saturated zone (water table) in the watershed. The thickness of the soil was represented by a numerical model, based on those thicknesses measures and the model HAND. The depth of the water table was represented by another numerical model, drawn from the soil thickness and depth of field measured. A new methodology that estimates the Manning coefficient from the CN coefficient was used with satisfactory results. In the processes of calibration and validation of the model, the coefficients showed adequate correlation indexes. Hydrological simulations were made for 15 years in three land cover and land use scenarios, which have been prepared in order to compare the same area of forest cover in different positions of the basin, due to the presence of shallow soils near watercourses. Were analyzed, among the scenarios simulated for the entire period: total flow and baseflow; parameters of hydrographs (in selected events of the series); position of the water table, available water content; and flow duration curves. The results showed that in the study area there is no influence of the position of forest cover in relation to shallow soils to the water yield. Because there are few studies that address the effect of the location of forest cover in water yield is encouraged to conduct further research, among other reasons, for the determination of the priority sites to the reforestation in environmental conservation programs.