The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) was evaluated for a region that has a long history of irrigated corn (Zea mays L.). Imprecise irrigation and plentiful fertilizer applications have contributed to the buildup of NO3-N in ground water, where concentrations often exceed 30 mg L-1. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of management practices on corn yield, N uptake, plant biomass, leaf area development, soil water content, and soil N. Fieldmeasured results from 1992 were used to calibrate RZWQM. The model was evaluated by simulating three irrigation levels and five fertilizer rates for 1993 and 1994. The model simulated the soil water pattern satisfactorily during most of the growing season; however, the simulated [...]
