Author(s): Qian Lin; Takashi Kinoshita; Ryosuke Akoh; Tadaharu Ishikawa
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Rtificial plant; Osmotic pressure; Soil-vegetation system; Soil water flow; Numerical simulation
Abstract: An artificial plant model was developed to test a soil–vegetation system. First, the water absorption capability was investigated. We examined the relationships among water absorption capability, plant solution concentration, and soil porosity under saturated conditions. Then, the effect of soil moisture content on absorption capability was examined under unsaturated conditions. Second, a one-dimensional numerical flow model was developed to clarify the process of soil water flow. In this flow model, the related soil hydraulic parameters were determined from soil column drainage experiments. The water absorption part was formularized as a function of the suction head based on the above results. The model was carried out to simulate the change in soil moisture distribution with and without artificial plants. The results suggested that the artificial plant model was appropriate to establish a water transport model and carry out the soil–vegetation system experiments.
Year: 2012