Knowledge on soil hydraulic properties such as water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves is indispensable for water and pollutant transport modeling of agricultural systems. This soil hydraulic properties are affected by numerous sources of variability, mostly associated with spatial, temporal, and management-related factors. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial variability of parameters of water retention (van Genuchten) and hydraulic conductivity (Brooks & Corey) curves obtained with the "Beerkan" method based on simple infiltration experiments and soil texture data. These parameters are related to shape or texture (fitting parameters that shape the curves) and normalization or structure (saturated water content, saturated hydraulic conductivity and air entry potential). The field tests were carried out in a 25 x 25 m grid in a Fluvent soil and in an Oxisoil planted with beans (Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp.). For both soils, spatial dependence was verified in the values of parameters of shape, saturated water content, logarithms of the saturated hydraulic conductivity and air entry potential. The values of saturated water content and air entry potential were more sensitive to variation at short distances in the Fluvent than in the Oxisoil. The spatial dependence in the variograms was weak.
Hydraulic property; integral scale; infiltration
