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Title: Using RZWQM and Drainmod NII to Simulate Drainage Water Management in Iowa

Author
item THORP, K - 3625-15-10
item Jaynes, Dan
item Malone, Robert - Rob

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2006
Publication Date: 11/16/2006
Citation: Thorp, K.R., Jaynes, D.B., Malone, R.W. 2006. Using RZWQM and Drainmod NII to Simulate Drainage Water Management in Iowa [CD-ROM]. In: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, Nov. 12-16, 2006, Indianapolis, IN.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Water table management practices such as controlled drainage have the potential to reduce the amount of nitrate-nitrogen leaving agricultural systems through tile drains in the Midwestern United States. Increases in crop yield may also be possible with improved management of water in the agricultural system. In this study, two process-oriented water quality models, RZWQM and Drainmod NII, were used to simulate water table management practices for a tile-drained agricultural field near Story City, Iowa. Each model was calibrated and validated using 10 years of drainage and yield information collected at the site. The calibrated models were then used to simulate the effect of controlled drainage practices on nitrogen dynamics and crop yield over a sequence of historical weather information. Comparisons between the two models, in terms of performance and applicability to this problem, were also made.