Structured Application of the Two-Point Method for the Estimation of Infiltration Parameters in Surface Irrigation

Abstract

The two-point method is one of the best known procedures for estimating empirical infiltration parameters from surface irrigation evaluation data and mass balance, mainly because of its limited data requirements and mathematical simplicity. However, past research have shown that the method can produce inaccurate results. This paper examines the limitations of the method, reviews alternatives for improving two-point method results based on data that are collected or can easily be collected as part of a two-point evaluation, and suggests strategies for estimation and validation of results for different levels of evaluation data. Results show the limitations of formulating the estimation problem with advance data only and the benefits of using instead an advance and a postadvance mass balance relationship in the analysis. Because different combinations of parameters can satisfy the mass balance equations, the estimated function cannot be extrapolated reliably beyond the times used in formulating those relationships. While results can be used with confidence to characterize the performance of the evaluated irrigation event, they need to be used carefully for operational analysis and design purposes.