JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

To continue or develop the exploitation of underground water for different different uses and purposes, as well as building any water structure, set of quantitative features of aquifers can be detected. To achieve this goal, quantitative monitoring of groundwater level is only possible. Accordingly, this study compared the impact of both the concept of marginal entropy and ordinary kriging for groundwater level monitoring network design in the case Gotvand-Aghili Plain, Khuzestan province. It is important to note that a key aspect in groundwater level monitoring of the quantity measured was the variability or uncertainty in it. This created a considerable confidence to monitor and ultimately achieve favorable conditions in the future. In this study, the variability of the groundwater level was considered to evaluate the combined effects of marginal entropy and ordinary kriging. In order to determine the suitable areas for further monitoring or thinning as well as the compatibility of these two methods, the monitor network design was designed. The map classified according to the marginal entropy method, in a range between 0.07 to 5.26 of the marginal entropy change, areas with the higher rates of 2.13 in terms of density; this indicated the need for more observation wells. Ordinary Kriging method also changed the range of values; they also represented areas that needed monitoring more than 13.16. Comparison of the results obtained by the two methods showed that the marginal entropy of the kriging method with less uncertainty and by using it, there was less the need to be monitored and classified. Comparison of the two methods by the zoning map showed that fewer errors were taken to the marginal entropy method and it could be recommended for the groundwater level monitoring network design. The network was also based on the Cross validation estimation error evaluated. These tests and additional analysis were employed in this study to determine the suitable areas for the higher density of wells and the need for thinning areas. The results further confirmed the proper performance of the methods employed, as well as the superiority of the marginal entropy in the design of a small groundwater monitoring network.

This study was conducted to investigate the temporal variations of runoff and rill erosion in various soil textures under different slope gradients. So, a laboratory experiment was set up in three soil textures (loam, clay loam, and sandy clay loam) and four slope gradients (5, 10, 15, and 20%) using the completely randomized design with three replications. Runoff production and rill erosion were measured at a flume with 4 m×0.32 m in dimensions using a simulated water flow with 0.5 lit min^-1 in discharge during 30 min. Results indicated that runoff and rill erosion and their interaction were significantly affected by soil texture and slope gradient (P < 0.001). Significant relations were found between rill erosion and runoff both in three soils and four slope gradients, and the strongest relations were in loam (R²= 0.86) and 15% slope gradient (R²= 0.94). Runoff and rill erosion varied considerably in the soil textures and slope gradients during the experiment. A 10-min pick time was found for runoff and rill erosion. In contrast to runoff, rill erosion appeared an irregular and gradual increasing pattern during the experiment which was associated with the frequency of transportable soil particles. Clay loam had more sensitive particles due to a higher percentage of fine particles and weaker structure, and most of them were washed in early times, and finally, rill erosion was reached to a constant pattern. This study revealed that temporal variation patterns of runoff and rill erosion are influenced by soil type (texture and structure) and slope gradient.