Determining the active region model parameter from dye staining experiments for characterizing the preferential flow heterogeneity in unsaturated soils

The active region model (ARM) has been developed as a practical and effective approach for characterizing and representing preferential flow patterns in unsaturated soils. However, studies on methods to determine the ARM parameter (γ) are very limited. The major objective of this work was to refine the methods for determining the ARM parameter (γ) using the data from field-scale dye staining experiments. For this purpose, 13 field-scale dye staining experiments were conducted in silty clay, loam and sand with various initial and boundary conditions. The distributions of soil water content and fraction of stained region were measured to determine the ARM parameter (γ). Three determination methods of ARM parameter (γ) were presented according to the different distribution patterns of the soil water content of stained region. The efficiency of these approaches was demonstrated with the results from 13 field-scale dye staining tests that were directly related to preferential flow patterns. Impacts of soil texture on soil water redistribution, and effects of initial soil water content and infiltration amount on the preferential flow heterogeneity were also discussed in this research.