ESTIMATING NITROGEN LEACHING LOSSES USING HYDRUS-2D SOFTWARE AND IMPACT OF WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON MAIZE PRODUCTION UNDER FILM-HOLE IRRIGATION

Film-hole irrigation is plastic mulch combination with border irrigation which present a common agriculture management technique practiced in commercial crops production. Irrigation management can result in various impacts on water and nutrient distribution and consequently affect nutrient dynamics in soil profile. The aim of this work was to: (i) Soil water and nitrate distribution in soil profile were predicted by HYDRUS-2D model; (ii) Field experiments and HYDRUS-2D modeling of nitrogen (N) transport were carried out to estimate N losses from sandy loam soil under film-hole irrigation used for maize production in northwest of china; (iii) The measured and simulated data were used to calculate maize water and N use efficiency (WUE and NUE); (iv) The effect of water and nitrogen levels on the economic benefits had been discussed. The research results showed that film-hole irrigation had a significant effect on soil water and nitrogen dynamics, crop yield and WUE, NUE. HYDRUS-2D model simulating results showed a good fitting to the experimental data in water, nitrate dynamics and leaching. Additional WUE calculated by simulated data was closed to that calculated by measured data. The study suggests that film-hole irrigation could reduce possible negative influence on environment and enhance crop production.