Modeling Water and Nutrient Movement in Sandy Soils Using HYDRUS-2D.

Abstract

Models help to describe and predict complex processes and scenarios that are difficult to understand or measure in environmental management systems. Thus, model simulations were performed (i) to calibrate HYDRUS-2D for water and solute movement as a possible decision support system for Candler and Immokalee fine sand using data from microsprinkler and drip irrigation methods, (ii) to validate the performance of HYDRUS-2D using field data of microsprinkler and drip irrigation methods, and (iii) to investigate Br, NO, and water movement using annual or seasonal weather data and variable fertigation scenarios. The model showed reasonably good agreement between measured and simulated values for soil water content ( = 0.87-1.00), Br ( = 0.63-0.96), NO-N ( = 0.66-0.98), P ( = 0.25-0.78), and K ( = 0.44-0.99) movement. The model could be successfully used for scheduling irrigation and predicting nutrient leaching for both microsprinkler and drip irrigation systems on Florida's sandy soils.