paper presents a robust Darcy-based one-dimensional soil water balance
model (SAWAH) for simulating riceland hydrology. Experimental data fr
om an upland rice toposequence showing highly variable groundwater and
volumetric soil water contents theta are used to calibrate the model
and to validate it by a modified cross-validation method. Analysis of
variance is applied to estimate the mean squared prediction error and
to split it into errors in predicting horizontal, vertical, and tempor
al gradients of theta. Root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) o
f soil water content at strip-depth-time points was about equal to the
standard deviation of unreplicated measurements. Measured strip and f
ield means were more accurate than predicted means, but RMSEP remained
below 0.03 m(3) m(-3). Ranking of crop and soil parameters for their
effects on root zone water content and seasonal flux totals depended s
trongly on the imposed hydrology regime. Capillary rise contributed 5-
55% of seasonal evapotranspiration, depending on season and topographi
c position.