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Monitoring and modelling draining and resident soil water nitrate concentrations to estimate leaching losses

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  • van der Laan, M.
  • Stirzaker, R.J.
  • Annandale, J.G.
  • Bristow, K.L.
  • Preez, C.C. du

Abstract

Quantifying nitrogen (N) losses below the root zone is highly challenging due to uncertainties associated with estimating drainage fluxes and solute concentrations in the leachate. Active and passive soil water samplers provide solute concentrations but give limited information on water fluxes. Mechanistic models are used to estimate leaching, but require calibration with measured data to ensure their reliability. Data from a drainage lysimeter trial under irrigation in which soil profile nitrate (NO3-) concentrations were monitored using wetting front detectors (passive sampler) and ceramic suction cups (active sampler) were compared to NO3- concentrations in draining and resident soil water as simulated by the research version of the Soil Water Balance model (SWB-Sci). SWB-Sci is a daily time-step, cascading soil water and solute balance model that provides draining NO3- concentrations by accounting for incomplete solute mixing. As hypothesized, suction cup concentrations aligned closely with resident soil water concentrations, while wetting front detector concentrations aligned closely with draining soil water NO3- concentrations. These results demonstrate the power of combining monitoring and modelling to estimate NO3- leaching losses. Access to measured draining and resident NO3- concentrations, especially when complemented with modelled fluxes, can contribute greatly to achieving improved production and environmental objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • van der Laan, M. & Stirzaker, R.J. & Annandale, J.G. & Bristow, K.L. & Preez, C.C. du, 2010. "Monitoring and modelling draining and resident soil water nitrate concentrations to estimate leaching losses," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(11), pages 1779-1786, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:97:y:2010:i:11:p:1779-1786
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    1. Tillman, R. W. & Scotter, D. R. & Clothier, B. E. & White, R. E., 1991. "Solute movement during intermittent water flow in a field soil and some implications for irrigation and fertilizer application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 119-133, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. van der Laan, M. & Annandale, J.G. & Bristow, K.L. & Stirzaker, R.J. & Preez, C.C. du & Thorburn, P.J., 2014. "Modelling nitrogen leaching: Are we getting the right answer for the right reason?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 74-80.
    2. Liu, H.L. & Yang, J.Y. & Tan, C.S. & Drury, C.F. & Reynolds, W.D. & Zhang, T.Q. & Bai, Y.L. & Jin, J. & He, P. & Hoogenboom, G., 2011. "Simulating water content, crop yield and nitrate-N loss under free and controlled tile drainage with subsurface irrigation using the DSSAT model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(6), pages 1105-1111, April.
    3. Phogat, V. & Skewes, M.A. & Cox, J.W. & Alam, J. & Grigson, G. & Šimůnek, J., 2013. "Evaluation of water movement and nitrate dynamics in a lysimeter planted with an orange tree," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 74-84.
    4. Cabrera Corral, Francisco Javier & Bonachela Castaño, Santiago & Fernández Fernández, María Dolores & Granados García, María Rosa & López Hernández, Juan Carlos, 2016. "Lysimetry methods for monitoring soil solution electrical conductivity and nutrient concentration in greenhouse tomato crops," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 171-179.
    5. Fessehazion, Melake K. & Annandale, John G. & Everson, Colin S. & Stirzaker, Richard J. & Tesfamariam, Eyob H., 2014. "Evaluating of soil water balance (SWB-Sci) model for water and nitrogen interactions in pasture: Example using annual ryegrass," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 238-248.
    6. Stirzaker, Richard J. & Maeko, Tshepo C. & Annandale, John G. & Steyn, J. Martin & Adhanom, Goitom T. & Mpuisang, Thembeka, 2017. "Scheduling irrigation from wetting front depth," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 306-313.
    7. Salazar, Osvaldo & Vargas, Juan & Nájera, Francisco & Seguel, Oscar & Casanova, Manuel, 2014. "Monitoring of nitrate leaching during flush flooding events in a coarse-textured floodplain soil," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 218-227.

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