Modeling Capillary Rise in Clinoptilolite Zeolite and Riparian Soils to Sustain Vegetation in Water-Scarce Areas

Pinon-Villarreal, Aldo R. , Bawazir, A. Salim , Shukla, Manoj K. , Samani, Zohrab A. , King, James P.

2017-11-01 JOURNAL OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING 2017   143(卷), 11(期), (null页)

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Clinoptilolite zeolite (CZ) is being considered as a wicking material for revegetation of riparian regions in arid environments where depth to groundwater is less than 3 m. Simulation of water fluxes and water contents in boreholes filled with CZ and in situ unamended riparian soil (RS) for the purpose of riparian revegetation was modeled using Hydrus-1D and compared to water content measurements. A review of the literature shows that Hydrus-1D model has never been used for the simulation of water fluxes in CZ. Water content, depth to groundwater, and climate data collected in 2012 and 2013 during a field experiment in the Rio Grande flood plain, New Mexico, were used to calibrate and validate the Hydrus-1D model. Predicted borehole water content agreed well with measurements taken at 15, 30, and 90 cm depths when the groundwater levels were nearly stable (coefficient of determination [R-2] of 0.83 and root-mean square error (RMSE) of 0.023 cm(3)/cm(3) for CZ; R-2 = 0.90 and RMSE = 0.015 cm(3)/cm(3) for RS). Results show that Darcian nodal velocities slowed down (similar to 0 cm/day) within the top 60 cm of the CZ profile therefore limiting evaporation losses. However, this phenomenon can be a disadvantage for growing shallow-rooted plants. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.