Author(s)

A. El-Sadek, S. Ducheyne & J. Feyen

Abstract

The fate of nitrogen in the soil is of major concern because of the potential hazard that nitrogen, applied in excess of the natural decomposing capacity of the soil, contaminates shallow and deep aquifers. For the prediction of the nitrogen behaviour in soils simulation models are frequently used. In this study the transport and fate of nitrate within the soil profile was analysed by comparing historic field data with the simulation results of two mathematical models, i.e. the WAVE and DRAINMOD model. Comparison between experimental measured and simulated state variables indicate that the nitrate concentrations in the soil is controlled by the fertiliser practice, the initial conditions and the rainfall depth and distribution. Furthermore, the study reveals that the

Keywords