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Nitrate loss in soil drainage waters in relation to by-passing flow and discharge on an arable site
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Nitrate loss in soil drainage waters in relation to by-passing flow and discharge on an arable site

K.R.J. Smettem, S.T. Trudgill and A.M. Pickles
Journal of Soil Science, Vol.34(3), pp.499-509
1983
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Abstract

In a well‐structured soil at or close to pedal saturation, rainfall intensity in excess of pedal Ksat is predicted to result in by‐passing flow through well connected structural voids. The depth of solute penetration (tracer dye and nitrate) under by‐passing flow has been predicted by Df=(P‐Cp)/θf, where Df is the depth of penetration of the leading edge of solute in by‐passing flow, P is gross precipitation, Cp is the input volume transmitted through the soil peds and θf is the operational volumetric moisture content in by‐passing. The timing of surface applied nitrate arrival at a channel bank is demonstrated to be related to by‐passing flow rather than uniform displacement. The relationship between nitrate load in soil drainage waters (Y, mg s‐1) and water discharge (X, dm3 s−1) was Y∼6X after nitrate fertilizer application but subsequently declined to Y 0.5X It is deduced that the decline resulted from inefficient leaching under by‐passing conditions once surface applied nitrate had become relocated within the soil peds.

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