Analysis of sampling density for suitable soil compaction considering spatial variability of soil infiltration

Sampling density greatly affects the rational investigation of the spatial distribution variability of soil infiltration, and subsequently affects performance evaluation and design of basin system. In this study, the statistical characteristics, spatial variability structure and spatial distribution of simplified G-A infiltration model parameters were analyzed using the methods of geo-statistics and conditional simulation, based on measured data obtained from experiment field in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Meanwhile, the impacts of soil compaction sampling density on simulation effects of basin irrigation performance were analyzed in order to determine the suitable soil compaction sampling density. The results showed that the range and spatial distribution of simplified G-A infiltration model parameters tend to stabilize in the field scale when the sampling density of soil compaction is more than 50 per ha. Moreover, the relative errors between observed data and simulated data of basin irrigation performance evaluation indexes are less than 10% in the border check scale. Therefore, the appropriate sampling density of soil compaction is not less than 50 per ha. ©, 2015, China Water Power Press. All right reserved.