Subsurface transport of fertilizer-applied nitrogen on the eastern shore of Virginia

The movement of nitrogen from the surface, where it is applied as fertilizer, to groundwater is of importance due to the health concerns associated with nitrate and potential eutrophication of groundwater impacted surface water. The computer model, PRZM (Pesticide Root Zone Model) was used to simulate the transportation of nitrogen through the soil column, past the crop root zone to groundwater. Then MOC (Method of Characterization), a groundwater model, was used to transport the nitrogen that had reached the water table offsite. Results were compared to existing field data in an attempt to verify the validity of the simulation.