Furrow irrigation model for real-time applications on cracking soils

In order to model furrow irrigation more effectively, an infiltration equation for soils which crack after irrigation, based on 2 parameters, is proposed. Other parameters of the global model were assumed to be known (furrow length, shape, slope, and estimated roughness). One parameter was linked to the type of soil and was calibrated separately for the entire irrigation process. The second parameter took soil's cracks into account and was calibrated in real time during the advance phase (before the water front overran the middle of the plot). This global furrow irrigation model for cracked soils was derived from a conceptual approach and can be used either to predict in real time, water-use efficiency during irrigation (infiltrated volume, runoff water losses, uniformity) or to optimize irrigation parameters (head flow, irrigation duration). The model was tested and validated on 3 irrigation applications on 60 furrows in a maize field in Tarascon, southeastern France. This conceptual model can be easily adapted to the statistical approach, which is based on the variability of water advance between the furrows. / Les sols argileux sont fréquemment craquelés après l'irrigation. Les équations d'infiltration ont besoin parfois d'être modifiées pour prendre en compte les propriétés du sol au craquelage lors de la modélisation et de l'optimisation de l'irrigation des sillons. Dans cet article est proposé une équation d'infiltration basée sur deux paramètres. Un paramètre est lié au type de sol et, est calibré indépendamment de la conduite de l'irrigation. Le second paramètre prend le craquèlement du sol en compte et, est calibré en temps réel pendant la phase avancée (avant que l'eau n'arrive au milieu de la parcelle)