Evaluation of Root Water Uptake and Urea Fertigation Distribution under Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Abstract

Shallow groundwater contamination by nitrate is frequent in agricultural lands in Egypt because of the use of urea fertilizers. The urea transformation process in the vadose zone was simulated using a HYDRUS-2D model, Software package for simulations of 2D movement of water, heat, and multiple solutes in variably saturated media, for subsurface drip irrigation. The root water and nutrient uptake were assessed for three soil types (sandy loam, loam, and silty loam) with three emitter discharge levels (1.0 L h−1, 1.50 L h−1, and 2.0 L h−1), for a comparison of three fertigation strategies (A) at the beginning, (B) at the end, and (C) at the middle of the irrigation cycle. The extension of the wetted area mainly depends on soil hydraulic conductivity. The high emitter discharge with a short irrigation time is suitable for shallow-rooted crops. The cumulative flux was highest for silty loam soil and the lowest was for the sandy loam soil (1891, and 1824 cm3) for the 2 L h−1 emitter discharge within the 35 days simulation. The cumulative drainage significantly differs among soil types with little effect of emitter discharge. It recorded 1213, 295, 11.9 cm3 for sandy loam, loam, silty loam, respectively. Urea transformation is controlled by hydrolysis and nitrification as well as the adsorption coefficient of ammonium. Nitrate distribution is mainly governed by soil type rather than the emitter discharge where the sandy loam soil is more highly susceptible to nitrate leaching than to silty loam. Nitrate concentration has recorded the minimum possible level when applying the urea fertilizer at the beginning of the irrigation event for sandy loam and loam soil while for the silty loam soil, urea application at the middle of the irrigation event is more effective. Urea application at the end of the irrigation event gives the highest accumulated leached nitrate concentration below the root zone and should be avoided (the worst strategy).