Multilayer Water Balance Model: Validation against HYDRUS-1D and Real Data
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/ja-cea.2026.47.13771Keywords:
Modeling and control of agriculture, Precision farming, Model formulation, experiment design, Model validation, SimulationAbstract
This paper presents a multi-layer modelling methodology for simulating water dynamics in unsaturated soils, designed to maintain a conservative balance and reduce computational costs compared to continuous models based on Richards’ equation. The model incorporates infiltration, evaporation, capillary redistribution, transpiration and gravitational drainage using an explicit time integration scheme. Technical validation is carried out by comparison with HYDRUS-1D, simulating a complete 120-day strawberry growing cycle under identical forcing conditions and hydraulic parameters. The results show high dynamic agreement, achieving an RMSE=1.19mm and a reduction in computation time of over 97%. Subsequently, the methodology was experimentally evaluated in April 2026 at a greenhouse strawberry plantation in Moguer (Huelva), using actual soil moisture measurements at different depths. The results obtained demonstrate the model’s good predictive capability, achieving an RMSE=4.71%VWC and a Willmott index dW=0.833 for the cumulative profile.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alejandro Ruiz-Hermo, Luis Orihuela, Erid Pacheco, Luis Miranda Enamorado
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