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A Mathematical Treatment of the Initial Stages of Drying of a Soil Column¹

ABSTRACT

A nonlinear diffusion equation governing the initial stages of drying of a soil column is numerically integrated using a method designed to adjust the time step to compensate for steep moisture content gradients. A balance of mass check is used to determine when the simulation becomes invalid. Resulting tables of relative moisture depletion are given for various soils and drying rates. In view of the improved technique of numerical integration and the attention to the balance of mass check, it is felt that the numerical results obtained are more reliable than previously available results.

¹ Contribution of the USDA, Science & Education Administration (AR) and Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, Colo.

² Assoc. Prof. of Mathematics, Colorado State Univ.; Soil Scientist, USDA-SEA; and Assoc. Prof. of Mathematics, Colorado State Univ., respectively.

Received for publication October 11, 1979. Accepted for publication November 13, 1979.