Abstract:
A mathematical model for the rate of root water uptake has been developed considering ground conditions, type of vegetation and climatic parameters. The three independent features in the root water uptake model incorporated in detail are soil suction, root distribution and potential transpiration A two dimensional finite element approach has been employed to solve the transient coupled flow and deformation equations in vicinity of a tree. To validale the model, an array off measurements and the data have been compared with the numerical predictions. The predicted results acquired from the numerical analysis have been compared favourably with the field and the associated laboratory measurements, justifying the assumptions, upon which the model has been developed.
