Macroporosity and its effect on runoff processes were studied on a sloping subdrained clay field (very fine Aeric Cryaquept) in Southern Finland. An extensive field campaign was carried out to measure the spatial variability of soil macroporosity and hydraulic properties. According to the field data, macropore conductivity decreased with depth and soil properties showed differences between the upper and lower parts of the field. A one-dimensional model (MACRO) was applied to quantify the effect of these differences on the hydrological response of the upper and lower field sites. Based on the measurements, five separate parameterizations characterizing the differences in soil structure between the measurement sites were formulated. The change in soil structure had a great effect on the relative proportions of simulated drain flow and surface runoff but influenced only slightly the total amount of runoff. Evapotranspiration and percolation were similar in all cases. Examining model simulations, measured runoff components and groundwater table suggested that a two- or three-dimensional modeling approach is necessary, when prediction of proportional fractions of drain flow and surface runoff, and simulation of groundwater level in a sloping field are of interest.
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Research Article|
April 01 2008
Role of macroporosity in runoff generation on a sloping subsurface drained clay field — a case study with MACRO model
Salka Hintikka;
Salka Hintikka
1Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 5200, FI-02015, TKK, Finland
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Maija Paasonen-Kivekäs;
Maija Paasonen-Kivekäs
1Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 5200, FI-02015, TKK, Finland
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Harri Koivusalo;
1Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 5200, FI-02015, TKK, Finland
*Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Research Unit, PO Box 68, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
Tel.: +358 50391 3112; E-mail: [email protected]
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Visa Nuutinen;
Visa Nuutinen
2MTT Agrifood Research Finland, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland, †Department of Agrotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 28, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Laura Alakukku
Laura Alakukku
2MTT Agrifood Research Finland, FI-31600, Jokioinen, Finland, †Department of Agrotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 28, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Hydrology Research (2008) 39 (2): 143–155.
Article history
Received:
December 15 2006
Accepted:
September 05 2007
Citation
Salka Hintikka, Maija Paasonen-Kivekäs, Harri Koivusalo, Visa Nuutinen, Laura Alakukku; Role of macroporosity in runoff generation on a sloping subsurface drained clay field — a case study with MACRO model. Hydrology Research 1 April 2008; 39 (2): 143–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2008.034
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