Author(s): Qingyao Yu; Soon Keat Tan
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Water quality model; Nitrogen and phosphorus wash-off; Temporal-influenced source term; Soil adsorption; Soil surface
Abstract: Runoff water quality from a watershed depends on many factors, including pollutant sources and characteristics, weather and hydrological conditions, topography and soil properties. Among the many pollutants found in the surface water, nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) are two very important parameters in water quality modelling. Their presence, especially in excess, is the main contributing factor to eutrophication. In this study, a model describing the wash-off process of agricultural inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus on the soil surface is presented. Laboratory and field experiments were carried out to investigate nutrients (in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus) leached from soil, and washed off in surface runoff. Chemical degradation due to exposure to the elements and infiltration was also considered. Four water quality indices, including NO3 -, NH4 +, TN and TP were investigated. The model was calibrated and verified based on the results obtained in the field experiments.
Year: 2013