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Title: PROTOCOL FOR QUANTIFYING A SOLUTE MASS FLUX IN SHALLOW GROUNDWATER

Author
item Gish, Timothy
item KUNG, K - DEPT OF SOIL SCIENCE
item Daughtry, Craig
item STEENHUIS, TAMMO - AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGICAL
item KLADIVKO, EILEEN - DEPT OF AGRONOMY
item NICHOLSON, THOMAS - NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM
item CADY, R - NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMM

Submitted to: American Geophysical Union
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2005
Publication Date: 4/23/2005
Citation: Gish, T.J., Kung, K.J., Daughtry, C.S., Steenhuis, T.S., Kladivko, E.J., Nicholson, T.J., Cady, R. 2005. Protocol for quantifying a solute mass flux in shallow groundwater [abstract]. Joint Assembly American Geophysical Meeting. 2005 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Field solute transport studies inferring the relevance of matrix and preferential flow processes are common but actual flux measurements quantifying their impact are essentially nonexistent. To fully understand solute transport and develop theory to describe their behavior and impact, it is crucial to first quantitatively determine a total solute flux, including when preferential flow becomes active. A protocol extending a flux method previously developed for tile-drained systems was tested for shallow ground water systems without a tile drain. A bromide flux was monitored that represented a treated soil area of about 30 m2, which was subsequently subjected to a 4.1 mm/h irrigation rate. Results indicated that: 1) over 98 percent of the applied bromide tracer was recovered; 2) at 4.1 mm/h over half of the surface-applied bromide was recovered at a depth of 1.6 m after only 280 mm of irrigation; and 3) at this location, bromide fluxes were dominated by preferential flow when subjected to a 4.1 mm/h irrigation rate. Preliminary results suggest this protocol may be a useful tool for quantifying solute transport fluxes in non tile-drained systems.