One-dimensional model development and validation of surface flow and solute transport for border irrigation in traditional surface fertilizer application

A comparison basis can be provided for the advanced border fertigation application by simulating one-dimensional surface flow and solute transport process of border irrigation in traditional surface fertilizer application. A non-uniform distribution field of water flow velocity and solute concentration along the basin and its arbitrary vertical cross-section were constructed based on the vertical linear and logarithmic law in turbulence theory and continuous equation of incompressible hydrodynamics. A one-dimensional surface flow and solute transport model for border irrigation in traditional surface application of fertilizer was proposed. At the same time, validation of the proposed model was carried out using the results of two typical border irrigation tests. Results show that the proposed model can successfully simulate the water flow and solute transport processes of border irrigation, and exhibits good potential for use in conservation of water and solute quantities. Consequently, the proposed model provides a practical numerical tool for evaluating the performance of border irrigation in traditional surface application of fertilizer, and serves as a basis for comparison of border irrigation systems in different manners of fertilizer application.