Analysis of critical parameters of flow and solute transport in porous media

Abstract

Abstract Groundwater has immense importance when it comes to sustaining agricultural and domestic water demand. However, improper use of groundwater has led to drastic increase in its contamination. For efficient management of groundwater it is important to have a thorough understanding of parameters that influence the groundwater flow and solute transport. In this study, HYDRUS-1D/2D software is used to analyse the effect of critical parameters that influence the behaviour of solute in groundwater flow and its transport under different soil conditions. Also, single porosity and dual porosity approaches are discussed with their respective sensitive parameters. Parameter variations are illustrated in the forms of concentration contours of the solute spread and the breakthrough curves obtained over the flow period. The results of this work can be useful in analysing flow and solute behaviour in the vadose zone.