The effects of flow rate and distance travelled on the mobility of phosphate in soils

Effects of flow rate and distance travelled on average mobilities of phosphate in a soil are estimated from breakthrough curves of phosphate at the outlets of small columns of soil, following step increases in the concentration at the inlets. Experimental results are compared with results from a computer simulation model of leached columns of soil.Average mobilities of phosphate in columns of soil, following a step increase in the input concentration, decrease with decreasing rate of flow and with increasing distance travelled and appear to be linearly correlated on a logarithmic scale with both flow rate and distance travelled. An empirical equation, describing these relationships, is fitted to data from leaching experiments at flow rates between 30 and 600 cm/day in 10 cm long columns of soil. Coefficients are obtained by curve fitting breakthrough curves, calculated with a numerical computer simulation model, to experimental breakthrough curves. The fitted equation enables extrapolation to flow rates and travel distances that are more relevant to a field situation.