Comparison of Different Algorithms for Analyzing the Beerkan Infiltration Experiment in Sistan Region

In recent years¡ the single ring Beerkan infiltration experiment has gained increasing attention as it is cheap and simple to implement. The BESTslope¡ BESTintercept and BESTsteady algorithms were developed to estimate the soil hydraulic properties (e.g. saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and sorptivity (S)) through the Beerkan infiltration experiment. The purpose of this study is to compare these algorithms for estimating hydraulic properties¡ retention curve and hydraulic conductivity curve. For this purpose¡ 40 Beerkan infiltration tests were carried out in an experiment field in Sistan dam region. The negative and positive values with a relative error (Er) of more than 5.5% were eliminated and a set of 31 experiments in soils with loam and sandy loam textural classes was selected for the rest of analysis. The results showed that the BEST steady algorithm has the simplest calculating process and the Ks and S values as well as water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves estimated by this algorithm were similar to those obtained by the original algorithm with an acceptable accuracy. Therefore¡ it could be concluded that in soils with loam and sandy loam textures¡ the BEST steady algorithm is an appropriate alternative¡ which could be applied instead of two other algorithms.