Validation of a Fertilizer Nitrogen Model during Crop Production

The leaching estimation and chemistry model (LEACHM) model developed in the USA is used to predict water and nitrogen transport in multi-layered soil profile under winter wheat in Northern India. The nitrogen transformations considered are enzymatic hydrolysis of urea, nitrification, and denitrification, all represented by first-order kinetics. Expect for the soil hydraulic properties, all the model parameters are taken from the literature. The computed nitrate nitrogen, soil moisture profiles with depth and time and nitrogen uptake matched fairly well with the observed data in the field. The close matching of measured and model predictions suggest the capability of this model to help with nitrogen management under irrigated conditions.