Abstract:
A one-dimensional vadose zone model was used to simulate flow under natural boundary
conditions. The effects of hysteresis and temporal variability of meteorological conditions were
evaluated. Simulations were performed in HYDRUS-1D code for the period April 2013–January 2014
(6601 hours) at three different locations in a delineated portion of the sub-quaternary catchment
A80A of Nzhelele with different soil textures. Soil hydraulic characteristics were estimated in a
Rosetta library dynamically linked to the HYDRUS-1D model which is based on the numerical solution
of a one-dimensional Richard’s equation. Analysis of the simulation results suggests that ignoring
hysteresis for soils of similar textural class does not lead to any significant deviation of the model
predicted soil moisture, unlike for soils with different textural classes
