Evaluation of a nitrogen leaching/mineralization model for sugar beet

Abstract

Tests were made of the ability of a leaching/mineralization model to predict the amounts of mineral N in the soil in spring as a step towards estimating the nitrogen fertilizer requirement of sugar-beet crops. There was good agreement between predicted and measured values, both under conditions of natural winter rainfall and when the soil was covered to prevent leaching. The model also successfully predicted leaching losses of soil mineral N soon after drilling in a year in which early season irrigation and heavy rain induced considerable leaching.