Modeling nitrate leaching with a biogeochemical model modified based on observations in a row-crop field in Iowa

Prediction of nitrate leaching from cropland is crucial for preventing surface or ground water degradation. Accurate modeling of nitrate leaching requires simulations of both soil hydrological and biogeochemical processes. This paper reports an attempt to improve an existing biogeochemical model, Denitrification–Decomposition or DNDC, for estimation of nitrate leaching from crop fields with tile drainage system. DNDC was equipped with detailed biogeochemical processes of nitrogen turnover but a simple module for one-dimensional movement of soil water. Observations from nine drainage tiles with three different fertilizer treatments in 4 years (1996–1999) at an experimental field in Iowa were used for model modifications. Preliminary comparisons with observed tile discharge flow indicated that the original DNDC lacked the water leaching recession character. To correct this deviation, new water retention features were added to DNDC by: (1) adopting a recession curve to regulate the gravity drainage flow in the explicitly simulated soil profile (0–50 cm) and (2) introducing a virtual water pool for the space between the bottom of the modeled soil profile (50 cm) and the tile lines depth of placement (145 cm) to control the tile discharge flow. With these modifications, model prediction of water leaching fluxes from the tile drainage lines was improved. An adsorbed N pool was created in DNDC to simulate the buffering effect of soil on the amount of nitrate available for leaching. The Langmuir equation was adopted to simulate adsorption and desorption of ammonium ions on the soil absorbents. This modification enhanced the model capacity for simulating free ammonium dynamics, nitrification, and nitrate leaching. Sensitivity tests of the modified DNDC showed that the modeled impact of differences of precipitation, soil texture, soil organic carbon content, and fertilizer application rates on nitrate leaching rates were consistent with observations reported by other researchers. This study indicated that a biogeochemical model with limited modifications in hydrology could serve nitrate leaching prediction and be useful for sustainable agricultural management.