Estimation of infiltration rate from soil properties using regression model for cultivated land

The study was conducted on cultivated land at College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT campus), Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Twenty five points were identified at 10 m grid interval and field measurements were performed using double ring infiltrometer method. Result of soil analysis suggests sandy loam and loamy sand texture and the bulk density and particle density have varied from 1.412–1.716 g/cm3 and 2–3.03 g/cm3, respectively. The basic infiltration rate has varied from 0.3 cm/h to 6.8 cm/h. Result show that sand, particle density and organic carbon content have a positive correlation with infiltration rate by 0.75, 0.18 and 0.22, respectively, whereas silt, clay, bulk density and moisture content, have a negative correlation with infiltration rate by −0.41, −0.73, −0.33 and −0.22, respectively. The analysis performed for five classes considering the combination of soil properties and subjected to regression analysis. Result shows that in order to predict soil infiltration rate based on few properties of soil with seven independent variables, multi-linear regression model EIR = -30,578.81–305.56(sand%)-306.16(silt%)-0.306.33(clay%)-5.18(BD%)+.34(MC%)+4.18(PD)+16.85(OC%) with R2(0.80), mean RMSE (1.52) and standard error (2.39) is the best model for the estimation of infiltration rate and recommended for the study area.