Simulating event-based pesticide transport with runoff and erosion; OpenLISEM-pesticide v.1

Summary

This study presents a novel pesticide transport module for the OpenLISEM runoff and erosion model. During water erosion events, high amounts of pesticides can be transported alongside the runoff. Simulating this process helps to mitigate adverse effects of pesticides in the environment. We conceptualized pesticide uptake during runoff with a mixing-layer, including mass transfer of dissolved pesticides into the runoff water and detachment in combination with enrichment of sorbed pesticides. Lateral transport of pesticides is modelled with a kinematic wave based on the overland flow of water. The model simulations were in line with observations for two events in a small agricultural catchment in South-Limburg, the Netherlands. A sensitivity analysis showed that pesticide transport was mainly influenced by the mass transfer rate, the soil-water partitioning and the exponent for the enrichment ratio. The accurate simulation of runoff and erosion by OpenLISEM, enables OpenLISEM-pesticide to simulate transport and redistribution adequately.