<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

Publié en ligne: 28 mars 2019

Pages: 179 - 190

Reçu: 28 juin 2017

Accepté: 19 oct. 2017

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

Mots clés
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

Publié en ligne: 28 mars 2019

Pages: 179 - 190

Reçu: 28 juin 2017

Accepté: 19 oct. 2017

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

Mots clésLake 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.

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