The STICS model to predict nitrate leaching following agricultural practices

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to develop an upscaling approach for the soil-crop model STICS in order to predict the impact of agricultural practices on nitrate leaching on both plot and regional scales. A case study was carried out on a "Nitrate Vulnerable Zone" located in central France. The performance of the spatial approach was evaluated by accounting for all the spatial and temporal variability existing within the studied area. The results indicate that N leaching and nitrate concentration in drainage water were slightly underestimated; by 3 kg N·ha-1 (16%) and 8 mg NO3-·L-1 (11%), respectively. The STICS scaling approach was used to assess the effectiveness of "Good Agricultural Practice" established within the area over a seven-year period. The simulation results provided evidence that such a practice had reduced the nitrate concentration by about 30% (36 mg NO3-·L-1). However, the rate of nitrate leaching remains too large and further improvements to agricultural practices are required.