<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Complete descriptions of the particle-size distribution (PSD) curve should provide more information about various soil properties as opposed to only the textural composition (sand, silt and clay (SSC) fractions). We evaluated the performance of 19 models describing PSD data of soils using a range of efficiency criteria. While different criteria produced different rankings of the models, six of the 19 models consistently performed the best. Mean errors of the six models were found to depend on the particle diameter, with larger error percentages occurring in the smaller size range. Neither SSC nor the geometric mean diameter and its standard deviation correlated significantly with the saturated hydraulic conductivity (<italic>Kfs</italic>); however, the parameters of several PSD models showed significant correlation with <italic>Kfs</italic>. Porosity, mean weight diameter of the aggregates, and bulk density also showed significant correlations with PSD model parameters. Results of this study are promising for developing more accurate pedotransfer functions.</abstract>

Complete descriptions of the particle-size distribution (PSD) curve should provide more information about various soil properties as opposed to only the textural composition (sand, silt and clay (SSC) fractions). We evaluated the performance of 19 models describing PSD data of soils using a range of efficiency criteria. While different criteria produced different rankings of the models, six of the 19 models consistently performed the best. Mean errors of the six models were found to depend on the particle diameter, with larger error percentages occurring in the smaller size range. Neither SSC nor the geometric mean diameter and its standard deviation correlated significantly with the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs); however, the parameters of several PSD models showed significant correlation with Kfs. Porosity, mean weight diameter of the aggregates, and bulk density also showed significant correlations with PSD model parameters. Results of this study are promising for developing more accurate pedotransfer functions.

Comparison of alternative soil particle-size distribution models and their correlation with soil physical attributes

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Complete descriptions of the particle-size distribution (PSD) curve should provide more information about various soil properties as opposed to only the...

Comparison of alternative soil particle-size distribution models and their correlation with soil physical attributes

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 179 - 190

Received: Jun 28, 2017

Accepted: Oct 19, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2018-0009

Keywords
Lake Urmia (Iran), Particle-size distribution models, Pedotransfer functions, Soil physical properties

© 2019 Fatemeh Afrasiabi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Comparison of alternative soil particle-size distribution models and their correlation with soil physical attributes

Published Online: Mar 28, 2019

Page range: 179 - 190

Received: Jun 28, 2017

Accepted: Oct 19, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2018-0009

KeywordsLake Urmia (Iran), Particle-size distribution models, Pedotransfer functions, Soil physical properties

© 2019 Fatemeh Afrasiabi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Lake Urmia (Iran), Particle-size distribution models, Pedotransfer functions, Soil physical properties