EQUATIONS BETWEEN CHEMICAL SOIL VARIABLES AND HYDRAULICCONDUCTIVITY AT SATURATION

Hydraulic conductivity is a property that refers to the degree to which water moves in the soil; its measurement and estimation is a constant research topic. In the procedures for measuring it, there are theoretical models which describe the behavior of the parameter of interest through mathematical relationships between variables. This study was conducted in two sites representative of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca; it consisted of analyzing the main soil fertility and salinity properties, in order to determine their relationship to saturated hydraulic conductivity. A total of 63 composite soil samples were taken at a depth of 30 cm, in agricultural plots; they were analyzed at a laboratory and 17 parameters were identified. They were subjected to multiple correlation analysis to see their influence on conductivity. The correlation results showed that calcium, magnesium and CEC determine 50 % of the conductivity behavior. Using these variables, a multiple linear regression was performed to define the second-order polynomial equation with which the saturated hydraulic conductivity can be estimated.