E-ISSN 2705-3954 | ISSN 0794-4756
 
2026, Vol: 33, Issue: 2
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Original Research 


Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach

Jamilu Abdullahi, Abdullahi Argungu Sule, Ismaila Sanni Muhammad, Sani Khalifa Yakubu.


Abstract
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) governs water movement in the soil profile and is critical for irrigation, drainage, and water management. Direct measurement of Ksat by constant-head permeameter is laborious and time-consuming, necessitating predictive models based on readily measurable properties. This study evaluated multiple linear regression (MLR) for estimating Ksat of Kadawa soils in the Kano River Irrigation Project (KRIP), Nigeria. Twelve composite samples (0 - 45 cm) were analyzed with clay content, silt content, bulk density (BD), and particle density (PD) as predictors. Pearson correlation, MLR, variance inflation factor (VIF), residual diagnostics, and leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) were used to assess relationships and model performance. Ksat ranged from 165.81 to 552.30mm/day with a mean of 387.20±134.68mm/day. The fitted model explained 64.64% of Ksat variability (R2 = 0.6464; adjusted R2 = 0.4443) with an RMSE of 76.68mm/day and MAE of 58.88mm/day. Severe multicollinearity was detected between BD and PD (VIF = 10.74 and 9.56). Residual diagnostics showed no significant violation of normality (W = 0.972, p = 0.933) or homoscedasticity (BP = 8.134, p = 0.087). However, LOOCV revealed limited predictive generalizability (R2 = -0.3165, RMSE = 147.95mm/day, MAE = 108.11mm/day). The results indicate that clay, silt, BD, and PD provide useful exploratory information for Ksat variability in KRIP, but the model remains site-specific and should not replace direct measurements without independent validation. Larger datasets incorporating diverse soil conditions and structural properties are recommended for robust pedotransfer functions.

Key words: Saturated hydraulic conductivity; Multiple linear regression; Soil physical properties; Bulk density; Kano River Irrigation Project


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Abdullahi J, Sule AA, Muhammad IS, Yakubu SK. Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. NJE. 2026; 33(2): 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10

Web Style

Abdullahi J, Sule AA, Muhammad IS, Yakubu SK. Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. https://www.njeabu.com.ng/?mno=277547 [Access: September 28, 2026]. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Abdullahi J, Sule AA, Muhammad IS, Yakubu SK. Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. NJE. 2026; 33(2): 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Abdullahi J, Sule AA, Muhammad IS, Yakubu SK. Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. NJE. (2026), [cited September 28, 2026]; 33(2): 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


Harvard Style

Abdullahi, J., Sule, . A. A., Muhammad, . I. S. & Yakubu, . S. K. (2026) Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. NJE, 33 (2), 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


Turabian Style

Abdullahi, Jamilu, Abdullahi Argungu Sule, Ismaila Sanni Muhammad, and Sani Khalifa Yakubu. 2026. Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. Nigerian Journal of Engineering, 33 (2), 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


Chicago Style

Abdullahi, Jamilu, Abdullahi Argungu Sule, Ismaila Sanni Muhammad, and Sani Khalifa Yakubu. "Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach." Nigerian Journal of Engineering 33 (2026), 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Abdullahi, Jamilu, Abdullahi Argungu Sule, Ismaila Sanni Muhammad, and Sani Khalifa Yakubu. "Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach." Nigerian Journal of Engineering 33.2 (2026), 78-83. Print. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Abdullahi, J., Sule, . A. A., Muhammad, . I. S. & Yakubu, . S. K. (2026) Prediction of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Irrigated Soil Using Multiple Linear Regression: A Data-Driven Approach. Nigerian Journal of Engineering, 33 (2), 78-83. doi:10.5455/nje.2026.33.02.10


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