Water and nitrogen distribution as affected by fertigation of ammonium nitrate from a point source

The simultaneous distribution of water, nitrate, and ammonium from a point source discharging an ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) solution was measured using the gravimetric method. A 15° wedge-shaped plexiglass container was used to represent one twenty-fourth of the complete cylinder. The variables affecting water and solute distributions, including application rate, input concentration, and applied volume were investigated and their effects are presented on a basis of a completely cylindrical system. In the experiments, the apparent cylindrical application rate was varied from 0.6 to 7.8 l/h, the apparent cylindrical applied volume from 6 to 15 l, and the input concentration from 100 to 700 mg/l. Monitoring of the water movement revealed that the ultimate saturated entry radius on the surface increased with the application rate. Surface wetted radius and vertical wetted depth were proportional to the applied water volume with power values of about 0.3 and 0.5, respectively. The shape of the wetted soil zone was clearly related to the application rate and the applied volume. An increase in rate resulted in an increase in the wetted horizontal area and a decrease in the wetted soil depth, while an increase in volume resulted in an increase in wetted horizontal and vertical areas. A uniform distribution of nitrate concentration in the soil was found 15 cm around the point source for a given input concentration. For any input concentration, the accumulation of nitrate at the boundary of the wetted volume was observed. The nitrate concentration in the soil was primarily affected by the input concentration; there was an increased nitrate concentration with a higher input concentration. The results of ammonium distribution measurements indicated that there existed an extremely high ammonium concentration in the proximity of the point source (about 2.5-7.5 cm from the source). An increased input concentration produced a higher ammonium concentration around the point source. Results also demonstrated that the influence of fertigation on the ammonium distribution was restricted in a small volume, about 10 cm around the point source. Beyond this range, input concentration, application rate, and total applied volume had insignificant effects on ammonium distribution. The information obtained from this research is useful in the design, operation, and management of a fertigation system with drip irrigation.     

Evaluation of furrow fertigation and model validation on maize field

In new agricultural practices, joint application of water and fertilizer has been become common. Uniform distribution of fertilizer in soil and in plant growth duration is possible by this procedure. The main objective of this study was to investigate furrow fertigation management effects on distribution uniformity and runoff losses of nitrate in a cornfield, and validate a numerical fertigation model. A field experiment was carried out with seed corn at 12 experiments with a complete randomized block design during 2 years. Nitrogen requirement was determined by soil analysis and accomplished in four stages of the growth: before cultivation, in seven leaves, shooting and earring stages which first section (before cultivation) was applied by manual distribution and others by fertigation. Potash and super phosphate fertilizers (based on soil analysis) were sprayed on soil before planting. Water requirement was estimated by using class a evaporation pan multiplied by plant (Kc) and pan coefficients. Nitrogen fertilizer was solved in irrigation water and injected at the last minutes of irrigation. The results showed that fertilizer distribution uniformity of the low quarter (DU_LQ) ranged from 85.7% to 91.5% in first year, and 69.9% to 95.5% in second year. While water DU_LQ ranged from 74.1 to 98.2% in 2 years. Nitrate losses of surface runoff have ranged between 5.7 and 42.0% in first year according to the application time and the outflow flux. In second year, the nitrate losses decreased by adopting appropriate management based on the experiences of first year. The fertigation model was subsequently applied to the experimental data and results showed good agreement with field data.     

Simulation of 1D surface and 2D subsurface water flow and nitrate transport in alternate and conventional furrow fertigation

Increasing water and fertilizer productivity stands as a relevant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Alternate furrow irrigation and surface fertigation have long been identified as water and fertilizer conserving techniques in agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to simulate water flow and fertilizer transport in the soil surface and in the soil profile for variable and fixed alternate furrow fertigation and for conventional furrow fertigation. An experimental data set was used to calibrate and validate two simulation models: a 1D surface fertigation model and the 2D subsurface water and solute transfer model HYDRUS-2D. Both models were combined to simulate the fertigation process in furrow irrigation. The surface fertigation model could successfully simulate runoff discharge and nitrate concentration for all irrigation treatments. Six soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters were inversely estimated using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization technique. The outcome of this process calibrated HYDRUS-2D to the observed field data. HYDRUS-2D was run in validation mode, simulating water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profiles of the wet furrows, ridges and dry furrows at the upstream, middle and downstream parts of the experimental field. This model produced adequate agreement between measured and predicted soil water content and nitrate concentration. The combined model stands as a valuable tool to better design and manage fertigation in alternate and conventional furrow irrigation.     

Simulation of nitrogen leaching from a fertigated crop rotation in a Mediterranean climate using the EU-Rotate_N and Hydrus-2D models

Two different modeling approaches were used to simulate the N leached during an intensively fertigated crop rotation: a recently developed crop-based simulation model (EU-Rotate_N) and a widely recognized solute transport model (Hydrus-2D). Model performance was evaluated using data from an experiment where four N fertigation levels were applied to a bell pepper-cauliflower-Swiss chard rotation in a sandy loam soil. All the input data were obtained from measurements, transfer functions or were included in the model databases. Model runs were without specific site calibration. The use of soil input parameters based on the same pedotransfer functions in both models resulted in a very similar simulation of soil water content in spite of the different nature of the approaches. Good correlations were found between the simulated water draining below 60 cm and that calculated by water balance. Accuracy of the predicted nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) contents in the 0-90 cm soil profile was acceptable with both models, with values of the mean absolute error (MAE) below the average standard deviation of the observations. The uptake of nitrate was better simulated with EU-Rotate_N where specific crop N demand algorithms are involved. In the simulations with Hydrus-2D the evapotranspiration demand was a limiting factor for N uptake, resulting in an increasing underestimation of uptake with decreasing N fertilizer rates. Simulated N leaching below a depth of 60 cm was higher with Hydrus-2D due to a higher nitrate concentration in percolated water. Comparison of the observed and predicted yield response to N applications with EU-Rotate_N demonstrated that the best fertigation strategy could be identified and the risk of nitrate leaching quantified with this model. The results showed that for a successful solving of the problem studied, Hydrus-2D probably would need a more complex calibration, and that the EU-Rotate_N model can provide acceptable predictions by adjusting basic parameters for the growing conditions. Further research with other crops and soil types will allow up-scaling the quantification of N leaching from a field level to regional and national levels, identifying best management strategies in relation to N use from an environmental and economic perspective.     

Water and nitrate movement in drip-irrigated onion under fertigation and irrigation treatments

Frequent fertigation of crops is often advocated in the technical and popular literature, but there is limited evidence of the benefits of high-frequency fertigation. Field experiments were conducted on an Indo-American Hybrid var., Creole Red, of onion crop during three winter seasons of 1999–2000 through 2001–2002 in coarse-textured soil of Delhi under the semi-arid region of India. Three irrigation levels of 60, 80 and 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ET) and four fertigation frequencies of daily, alternate day, weekly and monthly comprised the fertigation treatment. Analysis of soil samples indicated considerable influence of fertigation frequency on NO₃-N distribution in soil profile. NO₃-N in lower soil profiles (30.0–60.0 cm soil depth) was marginally affected in daily, alternate day and weekly fertigation. However, fluctuations of NO₃-N content in 0.0–15.0, 15.0–30.0, 30.0–45.0 and 45.0–60.0 cm soil depth was more in monthly fertigation frequency. The level of soil NO₃-N after the crop season shows that more NO₃-N leached through the soil profile in monthly fertigation frequency. Amounts of irrigation water applied in three irrigation treatments proved to be too small to cause significant differences in the content of NO₃-N leached beyond rooting depth of onion. Yield of onion was not significantly affected in daily, alternate day and weekly fertigation, though there was a trend of lower yields with monthly fertigation. The highest yield was recorded in daily fertigation (28.74 t ha⁻¹) followed by alternate day fertigation (28.4 t ha⁻¹). Lowest yield was recorded in monthly fertigation frequency (21.4 t ha⁻¹). Application of 56.4 cm irrigation water and 3.4 kg ha⁻¹ urea per fertigation (daily) resulted in highest yield of onion with less leaching of NO₃-N.     

Spatial and temporal distributions of nitrogen and crop yield as affected by nonuniformity of sprinkler fertigation

Deep percolation and nitrate leaching are important considerations in the design of sprinkler systems. Field experiments were therefore conducted to investigate the influence of nonuniformity of sprinkler irrigation on deep percolation and spatial distributions of nitrogen and crop yield during the growing season of winter wheat at an experiment station in Beijing, China. Three experimental plots of a sandy clay loam soil in the 0–40 cm depth interval and a loamy clay soil below 40 cm were irrigated with a sprinkler irrigation system that had a seasonal averaged Christiansen irrigation uniformity coefficient (CU) varying from 72 to 84%. Except for the fertilizer applied before planting, fertilizer was applied with the sprinkler irrigation system. The corresponding seasonal averaged CU for fertigation varied from 71 to 85%. Daily observation of matrix water potentials in the root zone showed that little deep percolation occurred. Consequently, the effect of sprinkler uniformity on deep percolation was minor during the irrigation season for the soil tested. Intensive gravimetric soil core samplings were conducted several times during the irrigation season in a grid of 5 m × 5 m for each plot to determine the spatial and temporal variation of NH₄-N and NO₃-N contents. Soil NH₄-N and NO₃-N exhibited high spatial variability in depth and time during the irrigation season with CU values ranging from 23 to 97% and the coefficient of variation ranging from 0.04 to 1.06. A higher uniformity of sprinkler fertigation produced a more uniform distribution of NH₄-N, but the distribution of NO₃-N was not related to fertigation. Rather it was related to the spatial variability of NO₃-N before fertigation began. At harvest, the distribution of dry matter above ground, nitrogen uptake, and yield were measured and the results indicated that sprinkler fertigation uniformity had insignificant effects on the parameters mentioned above. Field experimental results obtained from this study suggest that sprinkler irrigation if properly managed can be used as an efficient and environment-friendly method of applying water and fertilizers.     

滴灌施肥灌溉条件下土壤水氮运移的研究进展

对滴灌施肥灌溉条件下水分和养分运移的研究进展进行了总结。许多研究表明 ,滴灌施肥灌溉条件下土壤水、氮的运移和分布主要受土壤特性、灌水器流量、肥液浓度及灌水量的影响 ,而灌水器周围饱和区半径的确定是影响土壤水分和氮素运移模拟精度的关键因素。关于滴灌施肥灌溉条件下氮素运移的研究较少 ,尤其在施肥灌溉系统运行参数对氮素运移、转化、分布影响的研究方面更为薄弱 ,在今后的研究中应予以加强。     

不同水肥条件下土壤N、P、K分布规律研究

通过田间试验对不同水肥条件下土壤NO3--N、速效磷、速效钾、盐分分布进行研究,结果表明：在滴灌施肥条件下,土壤剖面NO3--N分布主要集中在湿润体边缘,速效磷主要分布在0～30cm范围,速效钾主要分布在0～40cm范围;合理水肥比例可提高红枣对养分的吸收和减少养分在土壤中的积累且影响土壤盐分分布。试验结果为盐渍化土壤水肥一体化管理提供参考。     

Effect of surface and subsurface drip fertigation on sweet corn rooting,uptake, dry matter production and yield

Summary Subsurface (SS) drip fertigation may increase sweet corn ear yield relative to surface (S) fertigation, because immobile nutrients are delivered at the center of the soil-root volume rather than on top of the soil. A container (1 × 1 × 1 m) experiment was conducted on a loessial soil (Haploxeralf) to test this hypothesis. Marketable and total ear yields were higher for tricklers placed 30 cm below the soil surface (3.22 and 4.90 kg m^–2, respectively) than on the surface (2.86 and 4.30 kg m^–2, respectively). Total fresh weight, dry matter production and plant height during the growing season were also greater for subsurface emitters. Deep trickler position significantly increased P and K content at the center of the root zone. The enhanced concentration apparently stimulated plant rooting which, together with the higher nutrient activity in the soil solution, increased P and K uptake rates, which in turn facilitated the higher dry matter production and commercial yield relative to surface trickler placement. The higher root activity in SS than in S fertigation was reconfirmed by soil air CO₂ concentration measurements which showed significant differences between the two treatments during the growth season.On studies in the ARO from The College of Postgraduates of Mexico, Montecillos, Mexico.     

Two-dimensional modeling of nitrate leaching for various fertigation scenarios under micro-irrigation

The regular application of nitrogen fertilizers by irrigation is likely responsible for the increase in nitrate concentrations of groundwater in areas dominated by irrigated agriculture. Consequently, sustainable agricultural systems must include environmentally sound irrigation practices. To reduce the harmful effects of irrigated agriculture on the environment, the evaluation of alternative irrigation water management practices is essential. Micro-irrigation offers a large degree of control, enabling accurate application according to crop water requirements, thereby minimize leaching. Furthermore, fertigation allows the controlled placement of nutrients near the plant roots, reducing fertilizer losses through leaching into the groundwater. The presented two-dimensional modeling approach provides information to improve fertigation practices. The specific objective of this project was to assess the effect of fertigation strategy and soil type on nitrate leaching potential for four different micro-irrigation systems. We found that seasonal leaching was the highest for coarse-textured soils, and conclude that fertigation at the beginning of the irrigation cycle tends to increase seasonal nitrate leaching. In contrast, fertigation events at the end of the irrigation cycle reduced the potential for nitrate leaching. For all surface-applied irrigation systems on finer-textured soils, lateral spreading of water and nitrates was enhanced by surface water ponding, causing the water to spread across the surface with subsequent infiltration downwards and horizontal spreading of soil nitrate near the soil surface. Leaching potential increased as the difference between the extent of the wetted soil volume and rooting zone increased.     

Evaluation of the RZWQM for the Simulation of Water and Nitrate Movement in Level-Basin,Fertigated Maize

This study concerns the evaluation of the root zone water quality model (RZWQM) to simulate the seasonal water and nitrate movement in a level basin irrigated corn field under three different nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments. The three N treatments, superimposed over a split basal dose applied before and at planting, were: a single broadcast application of 150 kg N/ha as urea (100% amidic form), a single fertigation application of the same N as UAN (50% amidic, 25% ammonium and 25% nitrate) with the first irrigation, and multiple UAN fertigations with three irrigations. Certain variety-specific maize crop parameters in the model were obtained by fitting these parameters to field data from the single fertigation treatment. The model was then evaluated on water and N results for the treatments. The model adequately simulated the water and nitrate transport for the season, with the seasonal averages of measured and predicted values differing by less than 5%. The most significant differences between measured and simulated water and nitrate occurred near the soil surface (15 cm depth), mostly during the days when the soil was extremely wet following irrigations. With the soil hydraulic properties estimated by simple means, the model tends to overestimate downward water fluxes and related nitrate transport through a compacted layer; however, it is found to be a useful tool to study the relative impacts of alter- nate nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation practices on root zone water quality.     

Mechanism of improved phosphate uptake efficiency in banana seedlings on acidic soils using fertigation

Fertigation improves nutrient uptake efficiency greatly, while the mechanism of increased nutrient uptake efficiency remains unclear. In this study, the effects of conventional phosphate (P) fertilization (by mixing fertilizer with soils) and fertigation (by dissolving fertilizer in water) on P uptake were compared in banana (Musa sapientum) seedlings. Results indicated that, compared with conventional fertilization, fertigation increased the concentration of available P by 108% and decreased the P sorption index by 31% in the 0-8 cm surface soil of banana roots. Fertigation enhanced the transformation of different P fractions, increased the concentrations of aluminum-bound P (Al-P), iron-bound P (Fe-P) and occluded-P (O-P), and decreased the pH value by 0.3 units. However fertigation did not influence the activity of acid phosphatase, but increased microbial biomass and root activity by 25.5-67.8%. Furthermore, fertigation increased the root distribution in the 0-8 cm soil layer by 7.8-9.4% compared with conventional fertilization. These results suggest that fertigation increases P uptake efficiency as the result of increased root activity, root distribution, microbial biomass and reduced P sorption index in the surface soil of banana seedlings.     

灌施条件下波涌灌溉土壤间歇入渗硝态氮运移特性试验研究

通过室内土壤灌施间歇入渗试验,研究了灌施条件下波涌灌溉土壤间歇入渗硝态氮的运移与分布特性,并与灌施条件下土壤连续入渗进行了对比。肥液入渗硝态氮主要保存在浅层土壤中,间歇入渗较连续入渗硝态氮锋面运移速度慢,湿润范围内间歇入渗浅层土壤中入渗硝态氮量占总入渗量的比例较连续入渗的高,间歇入渗有利于将硝态氮保持在浅层土壤之中。研究成果为进一步研究施肥条件下波涌灌溉土壤间歇入渗盐分、养分等溶质运移规律奠定了基础。     

水肥气耦合滴灌提高温室番茄土壤通气性和水氮利用

【目的】探索温室作物水肥气耦合滴灌下掺气量、灌水量和施氮量适宜组合方案,为提高水氮利用效率提供理论依据。【方法】设置施氮量(低氮和常氮)、掺气量(常规滴灌和曝气滴灌)和灌水量(低水量和高水量)3因素2水平随机区组试验,以地下滴灌为供水方式,通过系统监测土壤水分饱和度、氧气扩散速率(ODR)、氧化还原电位(Eh)、矿质氮量及作物水氮利用等指标,研究了水肥气耦合滴灌对温室番茄土壤通气性及水氮利用的影响。【结果】与常规滴灌相比,高水量条件下曝气处理的土壤水分饱和度有所降低,ODR和Eh显著提高。灌水量、施氮量和掺气量影响土壤矿质氮量,曝气滴灌下土壤硝态氮和铵态氮量较常规滴灌平均降低21.4%和15.5%(P<0.05),高水量处理土壤硝态氮和铵态氮量较低水量处理平均降低22.7%和14.7%(P<0.05),常氮处理土壤硝态氮和铵态氮量较低氮处理平均增加29.0%和17.8%(P<0.05)。高水量和常氮条件下番茄灌溉水利用效率较低水量、低氮处理平均降低6.7%和增加40.9%(P<0.05),高水量和常氮条件下番茄氮素吸收利用效率较低水量、低氮处理平均增加13.6%和12.7%(P<0.05),曝气滴灌下番茄灌溉水利用效率和氮素吸收利用效率较常规滴灌平均增加22.9%和12.4%(P<0.05)。【结论】水肥气耦合滴灌可有效改善土壤通气性,提高水氮利用效率,促进番茄生长,实现作物增产。本试验中,常氮曝气高水量处理是温室番茄适宜的水肥气组合方案。     

Simulation of artificial neural network model for trunk sap flow of Pyrus pyrifolia and its comparison with multiple-linear regression

Trunk sap flow of tree is an important index in the irrigation decision of orchard. On the basis of the measured sap flow (SF) of pear tree (Pyrus pyrifolia) in the field, the multiple-linear regression for simulating the SF was obtained after analyzing the relationships between the SF and its affecting factors in this study and an artificial neural network (ANN) technique was applied to construct a nonlinear mapping to simulate the SF, then the simulated SF by two models was, respectively, compared to the measured value. Results showed that trunk SF had significant relationship with the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in the single-variable analysis method but with soil volumetric water content (θ) using the ANN models with default of different variables. The correlation coefficient (R²), mean relative error (MRE) and root mean square error (RMSE) between the measured and simulated sap flows by the ANN model developed by taking VPD, solar radiation (S_r), air temperature (T), wind speed (W_s), θ, leaf area index (LAI) as the input variables were 0.953, 10.0% and 5.33 L d⁻¹, respectively, and the simulation precision of ANN model was superior to that of multiple-linear regression due to its better performance for the nonlinear relationship between trunk SF and its affecting factors, thus ANN model can simulate trunk sap flow and then may help the efficient water management of orchard.     

The transport of chloride and non-diffusible solutes through soil

Summary The mean velocity at which water flowed through large undisturbed cores of soil was determined from the breakthrough of surface-applied Cl^–, using a transfer function based on the normal distribution of the logarithm of cumulative drainage. For soils ranging in texture from sandy loam to silty clay loam, mean pore water velocities varied from 7 to 30 cm h^–1 for an input rate of 2 cm h^–1. Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli applied to the soil surface appeared to be transported through large pores only (> 10–15 m diameter), and the relative concentration in the effluent (C/C₀) did not change significantly with effluent volume. Mean C/C₀ values for E. coli in these soils, which ranged from 0.003 to 0.94, could be predicted from the mean pore water velocity derived from Cl^– transport.     

Sensitivity analysis and field testing of the RISK-N model in the Central Valley of Chile

We present the results from a sensitivity analysis and a preliminary short-term, site-scale performance assessment of the analytical soil and groundwater nitrate transport RISK-N. The study was carried out in the Central Valley of Chile, on a 2.6 ha corn (Zea mays L.) field underlain by a shallow unconfined aquifer during the cropping season 2000–2001. Nitrogen levels in soils as well as NO₃⁻–N irrigation water and groundwater concentrations were monitored through the crop-growing period, the latter by a network of 16 monitoring wells. A sensitivity analysis shows that both the nitrate flux from the vadose zone and NO₃⁻–N groundwater concentration are mainly influenced by the initial soil nitrogen levels, water input, and soil porosity. Also, simulated groundwater NO₃⁻–N levels are sensitive to changes on the saturated zone denitrification constant. An additional analysis further reveals the significance of the latter parameter, in conjunction with the amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer. We obtained a good agreement between observed average and simulated values. While the model performs well when spatially averaged values are used (root mean square error, RMSE = 1.4 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N), the prediction error increases (RMSE = 1.9 mg l⁻¹ of NO₃⁻–N) when the concentration in each well is considered. This fact could be explained by the time and space scale of the experiment and the characteristics of the RISK-N model. The model is easy to use and seems appropriate for mid- and long-term studies of nitrogen contamination in groundwater for agricultural conditions in the Central Valley of Chile and under limited field data availability conditions. However, it needs to be tested for longer periods and under different climatic conditions, soil types, and aquifer characteristics, before its range of applicability can be fully established and recognized.     

滴灌均匀系数对土壤水分和氮素分布的影响

为了确定滴灌均匀系数的设计与评价标准,在日光温室内研究了滴灌施肥灌溉均匀性和施氮量对土壤水氮分布特性的影响。试验中滴灌均匀系数（Cu）设置0.62、0.80和0.96 3个水平,施氮量设置150和300 kg/hm2 2个水平。土壤含水率和电导率采用沿毛管均匀布置的TDR探头（Hydra Probe）连续监测,并定期取土样测试土壤硝态氮和铵态氮含量。结果表明,在作物生育期内3种滴灌均匀系数处理的土壤含水率一直保持很高的均匀系数,滴灌均匀系数和施氮量对土壤含水率均值及其均匀系数的影响均不显著（α=0.05）。土壤电导率及硝态氮含量的均匀性在很大程度上取决于土壤初始氮素含量的均匀性,其均匀系数低于土壤含水率的均匀系数,滴灌均匀系数的影响也不显著。从获得均匀的土壤水氮分布的角度出发,现行滴灌均匀系数标准尚有降低的空间。     

Nitrate leaching and soil nitrate content as affected by irrigation uniformity in a carrot field

High value crops such as carrot planted in coarse soils of the Southern San Joaquin Valley in California are prime candidates for nitrate leaching through irrigation nonuniformity. A 2-year study was carried out to explore the impact of irrigation uniformity on nitrate leaching. Irrigation uniformity was measured using catchcans. Soil nitrate (NO₃-N) and ammonium (NH₄-N) contents were measured from soil sampled at different depths and times during two growing seasons. Nitrate leaching was determined using ion-exchange resin bags at 1-m depth sampled three times during each season. Although, soil NO₃-N as well as seasonal irrigation was significantly higher along the lateral irrigation pipe than between the sprinklers, nitrate leaching was not significantly higher. As expected, soil nitrate content decreased as percolation increased for both years. Nitrate leaching, as estimated by anion-exchange resin bags, was positively correlated to soil NO₃-N content but was not correlated to irrigation depth, irrigation uniformity, or deep percolation. Field variation in saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), soil organic matter (OM), and soil water retention at field capacity had limited effect on NO₃-N and NH₄-N distributions in the profile and on nitrate leaching. The results of this experiment suggest that irrigation nonuniformity has less impact on nitrate movement than suggested by earlier studies.     

同步滴灌施肥条件下根际土壤水氮分布试验研究

通过室内土槽试验,探讨了停灌后不同时间,同步施肥滴灌对土壤水分及土壤硝态氮在土壤剖面分布的影响。结果表明:停灌后,各处理土壤水分以滴头为中心沿径向向四周扩散;由于水分在横向及纵向运动,上下层土壤水势梯度随径向距离增加而逐渐减少。停灌后,氮浓度3、2 g/L处理硝态氮的含量与径向距离及土层深度成反比;氮浓度0 g/L处理硝态氮的含量随径向距离及土层深度增加先增大后减小,氮浓度0 g/L处理硝态氮在深度分布表现为"上低中高下稳定"抛物线分布。