Effects of different soil conditioners on soil water and modelling with HYDRUS-2D

Olive oil waste compost (8%), pearlite (4%) and hydrophilic polymer (sutut, 0.12%) were mixed with loamy and clay loam soil with three replications. Effects of soil conditioners on soil water content, some soil properties and some properties of tomato plants were investigated under controlled atmospheric environment. Additionally, HYDRUS 2D simulation models were established by using measured soil water content with sensors and soil properties. As a result, application of olive oil waste compost to loamy soil saved irrigation water 45.12%, 42.99% and 38.88% for control, pearlite and polymer applications respectively. For clay loam soil applications of polymer saved irrigation water 17.82%, 46.76% and 27.29% for control, pearlite and olive oil waste compost applications respectively. pH reduced and EC increased for both soils after the experiment. The highest EC was obtained under olive oil waste compost application. Tomato biomass was not affected by treatments for loamy soil. The highest plant fresh biomass and plant length were obtained under pearlite applications for clay loam soil. The highest branch numbers were obtained under olive oil waste compost applications for clay loam soil. Root length and surface areas were maximum under olive oil waste compost applications for both soils. Correlation coefficient between volumetric water contents using water sensors and modeled water contents by using HYDRUS 2D were between 0.85-0.95 for loamy soils and were between 0.83-0.88 for clay loam soils.