Modeling of Water Flow and Nitrate Transport to Subsurface Drains ()
ABSTRACT
In this study, the water flow and nitrate transport to a subsurface drain, using a simplified and detailed model, are simulated for the specific hydro-geological conditions of Elverdinge and Assenede, Belgium. Previously, the DRAIN MOD-N model proved to be able to simulate nitrate concentrations and drainage well for an in-situleaching experiment, the “Hooibeekhoeve” in the community of Geel (north-eastern part of Belgium), conducted in 1992-1995. In this study, the calibrated model is used to simulate the nitrate leaching for the winter period 2000-2001 in Elverdinge and Assenede and is compared to a model with a simplified nitrate transport description. The comparative analysis between both model approaches reveals that the simplified model is able to predict sufficiently accurate the observed nitrate leaching. The detailed approach however has the advantage of giving a more accurate estimate of the nitrogen mineralization, N deposition and denitrification, resulting in a more precise modeling of the nitrate leaching to surface waters and groundwater.
Share and Cite:
El-Sadek, A. and Radwan, M. (2018) Modeling of Water Flow and Nitrate Transport to Subsurface Drains.
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
7, 45-59. doi:
10.4236/jacen.2018.71005.