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Comparing Simulated Nitrate‐Nitrogen Concentration In Subsurface Drainage Using Drainmod‐N II and RZWQM2
Author(s) -
Du Xuan,
Feng Hao,
Helmers Matthew J.,
Qi Zhiming
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
irrigation and drainage
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1531-0361
pISSN - 1531-0353
DOI - 10.1002/ird.2093
Subject(s) - drainage , nitrate , nitrogen , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , dns root zone , water quality , field experiment , soil science , environmental engineering , chemistry , soil water , mathematics , geology , statistics , ecology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
This study used a 16‐year (1989–2004) field experiment conducted in Iowa to compare the performance of DRAINMOD‐N II and Root Zone Water Quality Model2 (RZWQM2) in predicting nitrate‐nitrogen (NO 3 ‐N) concentration and losses in a subsurface drained field at nine nitrogen application rates (0–252 kg N ha −1 ). Results showed that the performance of both models can ‘satisfactorily’ predict NO 3 ‐N concentration. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), ratio of the root mean squared error to the standard deviation (RSR), and percent bias (PBIAS) for DRAINMOD‐N II were 0.87, 0.36, and −2%, respectively, in simulating NO 3 ‐N concentration; and 0.84, 0.39, and −9%, respectively, in simulating NO 3 ‐N loss. By contrast, NSE, RSR, and PBIAS for RZWQM2 were 0.76, 0.49, and −3%, respectively, in simulating NO 3 ‐N concentration; and 0.64, 0.6, and −16%, respectively, in simulating NO 3 ‐N loss. This study indicated that both models can be used to simulate NO 3 ‐N loss and concentration in drainage flow at different N application rates. However, DRAINMOD‐N II demonstrated slightly better performance than RZWQM2. In terms of the maximum contaminant level, the threshold N rates predicted by RZWQM2 and DRAINMOD‐N II did not differ significantly from those in observations and can be used for agricultural production. This study highlights the advantages of DRAINMOD‐N II in assessing the effects of nitrogen management practices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.