A SIMPLE COMPUTER MODEL FOR LEACHING IN STRUCTURED SOILS

A layer model for the movement of solutes in soil has been developed in which, as a working approximation, the soil solution is partitioned into mobile and retained phases. Only the mobile solution is displaced during water movement, and equilibrium is assumed to be established between the mobile and retained phases when flow ceases, giving holdback of solute. The model permits the displacement of the mobile solution through an indefinite number of layers when large amounts of rain fall. It can be assumed either that water and solute are stored in the bottom layer and can be withdrawn up the profile by evaporation or that they drain from the bottom layer. Predicted soil nitrate concentrations agreed reasonably well with those measured in a field experiment and indicated some sensitivity to layer thickness. The capacity of the model to predict concentrations in drainage is demonstrated.