• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2005

A simplified one-dimensional model STELLA was used to predict soil water movement in lllinois corn fields using soil water balance sheets. It offered the potential to increase understanding of soil nitrate and agrochemical leaching process. The model accounted for aU possible annual inputs and outputs of water from a closed ecosystem as represented by corn fields. Water inputs included precipitation, while outputs included runoff, transpiration, evaporation and drainage. To run the model required daily inputs of two climatic data measurements such as daily precipitation and pan evaporation. Vertical water flow through the soil profile was calculated with first order equation including the difference in hydraulic conductivity and matric potential at the various soil types. The output results included daily changes of water content in the soil layers and daily amount of water losses including run-off, percolation, transpiration. This model was verified using Illinois corn field data for the soil water content measured by neutron scattering methods through 1992 to 1994 growing seasons. Approximately 22 to 78% of simulated water contents agreed with the measured values and their standard deviation, depending on soil types, whereas 30 to 70% of simulated water values agreed with the measured values and their standard deviations depending on soil layers.