Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T20:12:16.406Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A theoretical examination of Burns' (1975) equation for predicting the leaching of nitrate fertilizer applied to a soil surface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

G. D. Towner
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts., AL5 2JQ

Summary

The modelling of the redistribution of soluble salts in soils, in which it is assumed that the amount of water transferred from layer to layer is related to the excess over field capacity of the water content of a layer, is critically examined.

The equation obtained from the dispersion equation by neglecting the diffusive term is solved for the leaching of surface-applied nitrates. It is shown that, by comparing the finite-difference form of this equation to the algebraic formulation of Burns' (1975) model, the two approaches are essentially the same, but that Burns makes approximations that are too inaccurate. In particular, it is incorrect to relate the transfer of water to the excess over the field capacity of the water content of the layer. Burns' model, when applied correctly, requiresmany calculations to be performed, which is costly of computer time. However, it is unnecessary in this problem as the analytic solution is simple and quick to apply.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Addiscott, T. M. (1977). A simple computer model for leaching in structured soils. Journal of Soil Science 28, 554563.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bresler, E. (1967). A model for tracing salt distribution in the soil profile and estimating the efficient combination of water quality and quantity under varying field conditions. Soil Science 104, 227233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burns, I. G. (1974). A model for predicting the redistribution of salts applied to fallow soils after excess rainfall or evaporation. Journal of Soil Science 25, 165178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burns, I. G. (1975). An equation to predict the leaching of surface-applied nitrate. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 85, 443454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Day, P. R. (1956). Dispersion of a moving salt-water boundary advancing through saturated sand. Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 37, 595601.Google Scholar
Gardner, W. R. & Brooks, R. H. (1957). A descriptive theory of leaching. Soil Science 83, 295304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ince, E. L. (1956). Ordinary Differential Equations. New York: Dover Publications.Google Scholar
Nielsen, D. R. & Bigqar, J. W. (1962). Miscible displacement. III. Theoretical considerations. Proceedings of the Soil Science Society of America 26, 216221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terkeltoub, R. W. & Babcock, K. L. (1971). A simple method for predicting salt movement through soil. Soil Science 111, 182187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar