Evaluation of HYDRUS - 2D Model in Water and Nitrate Transport Simulation at Maize Furrow Irrigation

Nowadays, Water and solute transport simulations in different irrigation methods are evaluated using different models. The purpose of this study was to compare the simulation results of HYDRUS-2D model for different furrow irrigation treatments with field experiments. Treatments included Conventional Irrigation (CI), Fixed Partial Root Irrigation (FPRI) and Deficit Irrigation (DI). Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values were calculated in the range of 0.03 to 0.05 (cm3 cm-3) for the estimated water content in the treatments. According to the simulation results, after a period of a 10 days, the distribution of moisture around the root zone was in the range of the readily available water content, so it was possible to increase irrigation interval up to 13 days instead of 10 days. Estimated nitrate values of FPRI and DI treatments showed an overestimation in comparison with the measured values. The potential for nitrate leaching at 40 cm depth would be estimated in the order of CI> DI>FPRI for different treatments. Thus, more nitrogen was available to the plant in deficit irrigation treatments (DI, FPRI). Therefore, HYDRUS-2D model is advisable as a powerful tool in the simulation and management of water and solute consumptions in the furrow irrigation.