Hydrodynamic Dispersion Coefficient of Urea in Silty Loam Soil

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Abstract

 The modern theme of agriculture is not only to increase production but also to minimize undesirable environmental effects. Leaching of surface-applied fertilizer is the major source of groundwater pollution. Nitrogenous fertilizers are the most popular among the Indian farmers, which on leaching reach the groundwater in different forms (NH₄-N, NO₃-N, etc). NO₃-N leaches faster than other types, remains in-reactive in groundwater, moves with the velocity of groundwater and contaminates it. Contamination arises when NO₃-N accumulates in groundwater and consumed in high amount by humans and animals, may result in adverse health effects. For the study of contaminant transport phenomenon in porous medium, a general convection dispersion equation is used, in which dispersion coefficient is one of the primary parameters necessary to be determined for a particular soil. Keeping it in view a study was conducted to assess different available techniques to determine the dispersion coefficient with the help of soil columns having silty loam soil as soil medium. The value of the dispersion coefficient obtained for silty loam soil, by this method was equal to 0.00576 m².