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Modeling Nitrate Nitrogen Leaching in Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Tile Drain Depth or Spacing for Southern Minnesota, USA
Author(s) -
Davis D. M.,
Gowda P. H.,
Mulla D. J.,
Randall G. W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900050026x
Subject(s) - tile drainage , loam , drainage , tile , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , hydrology (agriculture) , tillage , soil water , soil science , agronomy , geology , geotechnical engineering , geography , ecology , biology , archaeology
The Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport (ADAPT) simulation model was used to evaluate the relative effects of nitrogen application rate, tile‐drain spacing, and tile‐drain depth on NO 3 ‐N losses through tile drains for conditions that are typical of the Upper Midwestern USA. The ADAPT model, a daily time‐step continuous water table management model, was calibrated and validated for tile drainage and associated NO 3 ‐N losses using long‐term monitoring data measured on three experimental plots of a Webster clay loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquoll) under continuous corn ( Zea mays L.) with conventional tillage treatment. For the calibration period, the model predicted mean monthly tile drainage and NO 3 ‐N losses of 4.6 cm and 6.7 kg ha −1 , respectively, against measured tile drainage and NO 3 ‐N losses of 4.6 cm and 6.9 kg ha −1 , respectively. For the validation period, the predicted mean monthly tile drainage and NO 3 ‐N losses were 4.0 cm and 6.1 kg ha −1 , respectively, against measured tile drainage and NO 3 ‐N losses of 3.7 cm and 6.5 kg ha −1 , respectively. Long‐term simulations were made for a wide range of climatic conditions between 1915 and 1996 to evaluate the effect of drain spacing, drain depth, and N application rates on tile drainage and NO 3 ‐N losses. Simulation results indicate that much greater reductions in NO 3 ‐N losses occur with reduced N application rates than with increases in drain spacing or decreases in drain depth.