Saturated soil water content to determine field is in excess water and for how long.

[Prabesh khanal]

Greetings,

The purpose of our research is to compare if the field is in excess water and for how long. We assume that if soil moisture ( or Soil water content) is greater than saturated soil water content or greater, then the field is too wet to enter for field operation. 

After aggregating the soil moisture to 10cm from the Soil Water content output in .DCN file, and plotting against the days of the year, this is what the current plot looks like. 

I wanted to know where I could find the saturated soil water content values or the Model output since the value was missing in .SOL file.

[Luca Doro]

I think you have to look for the porosity value.

Luca

[Prabesh khanal]

Hi,

Where could I find a porosity value for the specific soil or subarea output?

Thanks,

Prabesh

[Luca Doro]

Towards the beginning of the OUT output file, you will find the soil section. It is after the general and weather information, and in APEX is divided in physical and chemical properties of the soil. The information on the porosity is along with data on field capacity and wilting point.

By the way, considering what you wrote in your first message ("We assume that if soil moisture (or Soil water content) is greater than saturated soil water content or greater, then the field is too wet to enter for field operation"), do you know that APEX can simulate tillage delay due to soil water content? You can get more information by reading the explanation on how PARM(78) works.

Luca

[Prabesh khanal]

Hi Dr. Doro,

It looks like the  OUT Output file gives information about the soil's condition before the run and after the run is completed but not the year in between. Is there any other way to get information on the porosity, field capacity, and wilting point? Thank you for your help.

Thanks,

Prabesh

[Luca Doro]

This is what I did to answer your question:

1) Got the APEX user manual (by the way, are you using EPIC or APEX???).

2) Found the section about the output files available in APEX.

3) Read the description of all the output files available to find one that might have the information you need.

4) Modified the print file to get the output file I selected and see if the data needed are available.

You can do the same steps.

Luca