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A Mathematical Model for Phosphorus Movement in Soils¹

ABSTRACT

Land application of municipal and industrial wastes is increasingly being looked upon as an alternative for treatment of the effluent. Since phosphorus compounds constitute a major potential source of ground water contamination, it is important to study the movement of these compounds in the soil. In this paper, a model for the movement of P has been developed. Material balance equations for water in the soil pore spaces, P in the liquid phase, and adsorbed P on the soil have been formulated. These equations are solved numerically to simulate the P concentration profiles in the soil solution and in the soil as functions of depth for an operating waste disposal system. The results of the simulation show a good agreement with the field data. The model can be used to determine the response of the system for a given input of phosphates and thus is a useful tool in the design and management of such systems.

Key Words: land disposal • phosphorus adsorption • shock layer

¹ This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant GI-20 and the Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Michigan Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Article No. 6711.

² Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Chemical Eng.; Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemical Eng.; and Professor, Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, respectively, Michigan State Universtiy, East Lansing.

³ Formerly Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Systems Science and Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University. Presently, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Received for publication February 1, 1974.