Kale, Dr. M. U.CHOPRA, AYUSH SURENDRA.2020-05-242020-05-242019-09-18CHOPRA, AYUSH S. (2019). Simulation of moisture distribution under drip irrigation using Hydrus-2D. Department Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (Agricultural Engineering), Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Tech. 2019. Print. xiii, 153p. (Unpublished).http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810146454The experiment was carried out in Rabi season. In this modelling of clay loam soil strata in HYDRUS-2D was developed, calibrated and validated in order to predict moisture distribution pattern under different emitter discharges.Water scarcity is the major concern in arid and semi-arid region for agriculture authorities around the world. Micro Irrigation system such as drip irrigation systems are often recommended over traditional irrigation system to overcome this problem by increasing the water use efficiency. For proper management of drip irrigation systems, precise prediction of distribution and transport of soil water content around the emitters must be known. The study aims to develop a model for soil moisture distribution under drip irrigation using Hydrus-2D with an objective to calibrate and validate the model. Also to predict the water spread area of different emitters. A box experiment on soil moisture distribution under drip irrigation was conducted from 8th December 2018 to 8th April 2019 at Instructional farm of Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Dr. P.D.K.V. Akola. Experimental unit was setup by transplanting two tomato plants. Irrigation was done using emitter of 4 lph discharge on daily basis. The experiment was carried out in order to represent the actual system with the model. Soil moisture observations were recorded using gypsum sensors before, and after 8 hours of irrigation over the study period. In this research, the computer software package Hydrus-2D was used to evaluate the distribution and transport of soil water content around an emitter in a clay loam soil. The model was calibrated and validated by comparison with measured data from field experiments. Hydrus-2D model was calibrated for the period of 30 days. The simulated soil moisture content values were found in close agreement with the observed soil moisture content values during calibration. Calibrated model parameter i.e. saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and fitting parameter (n) were found to be 32.63 cm/day and 1.179, respectively. Whereas Coefficient of determination and Root mean square error from calibrated were found to be ranged from 0.862 to 0.96 and 0.09% to 0.45%, respectively. Calibrated model was validated for the period of 15 days. Similar to calibration, the model computed soil moisture content were in close agreement with the observed value. Based on model calibration and validation, the model was used for predicting the water spread area for emitter of 4lph and 8 lph discharge. Result showed that the spacing between the emitter having 4 and 8 lph discharge should not be more than 60 cm and 80 cm, respectively.enThesis