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The Load-based Nutrient Delivery Ratio model reduces the amount of nutrient leaving a functional unit (FU) in the quick flow as a function of the amount of load generated in the FU, similar to the Load-based Sediment Delivery Ratio. Constituents in the slow flow remain unchanged.

Scale

This model is applied at the functional unit scale, but can have catchment-wide effects. The model assumes a daily time-step.

Principal developer

Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology. The model was originally developed for EMSS (Hairsine 2001).

Version

Source v2.10

Availability/conditions

Load-based Nutrient Delivery Ratio is automatically installed with Source.

Flow phase

For nutrient trapping, the approach is similar to that of the load-based sediment delivery ratio model, with some allowance for enrichment due to factors such as the differential attachment to different particle sizes. The Nutrient Delivery Ratio (NDR) varies from 0 to 1, depending on loading (t/km/yr) as shown in Figure 9897. More details are provided in Hairsine (2001).

Figure

98

97. Nutrient delivery ratio as a function of sediment loading rate

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Figure 98. Arc-node diagram, Splitter

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The sediment loading rate threshold (SLRT) is the threshold below which everything is trapped. The Sediment Loading Rate at Sill (SLRS) is the maximum loading rate above which nothing is trapped.

The filter model is constrained by the proportion of the total stream length that is covered by a riparian zone.

The relationship between the nutrient delivery ratio as a function of the sediment loading rate (SLR) and the two thresholds is described by a quadratic function:

Figure 94Image Removed

That function is defined by specifying the nutrient delivery ratio at SLR50 = 0.5 • (SLRT + SLRS), from which a unique function is defined.

This function satisfies the following three constraints:

  • NDR = 0 when SDR = 0
  • NDR = 1 when SDR = 1
  • NDR > SRD when 0 < SDR < 1

From the first constraint:

Figure 77Image Removed

so that:

Figure 96

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From the second constraint:

Figure 79Image Removed

A further constraint needs to be introduced to solve for a, b and c. Let K be a matching value so that 0.5<K<1 in the following expression:

Figure 81Image Removed

K in Equation 369 effectively describes the shape of the curve in Figure 9998.

Combining Equation 367 and Equation 368 gives:

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or:

Equation 154Image Removed

Combining Equation 367 and Equation 369 gives:

Equation

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Substituting equation Equation 371 into Equation 372 gives:

Equation 189. Diagrammatic representation of flow handling by the Farm Dam model

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Figure 87Image Removed

or

Figure 85Image Removed

The constant b can be obtained by substituting equation Equation 374 into equation Equation 371.

Figure 8

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Units drop-down menu

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Evaluating a, b and c using initial estimates of K

Taking the initial estimates of:

  • SLRT=0.1 tonnes/kilometre/year
  • SLRS=10 tonnes/kilometre/year
  • SLR50=5.05 tonnes/kilometre/year

and the initial estimates of K(total phosphorus)=0.8 and K(total nitrogen) =0.7 in equation Equation 374:

Equation 374. Units drop-down menu

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b•(TP)= 0.225

b•(TN)= 0.183

Thus from equation Equation 371:

Equation 371. Diagrammatic representation of flow handling by the Farm Dam model

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a•(TP)= -1.228e-2

a•(TN)= -8.118e-3

and from equation Equation 367:

c•(TP)= -0.0224

c•(TN)= -0.0183

These initial estimate functions are plotted in Figure 10099 and Figure 101100.

Figure

100

99. Initial estimate of NDRrz (total P) Using K=0.8 as the matching point at SDR50

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Figure 100. Arc-node diagram, Supply Point and Water User

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Input data

Data for the SLRT, SLRS, SLR50 values are required, for which the model linearly interpolates between these values to determine the output loading rate.

Sediment and nutrient loading rates will be catchment specific and depend on the load generated. Therefore it is recommended that you examine the typical loads generated for the reach of interest prior to applying the filter model. This will enable you to establish sensible average annual load rates per km of riparian filter..

The model is constrained by the proportion of the total stream length that is covered by a riparian zone. (ie. stream riparian proportion / stream length in metres).

Parameters or settings

Model parameters are summarised in Table 78.

Output data

A time series of nutrient or solute load.

Bibliography

Hairsine, P 2001, Notes on the EMSS Riparian zone model for sediment and nutrient delivery, unpublished Notes, CSIRO Land and Water.

Herron, NF & Hairsine PB 1998, ‘A scheme for evaluating the effectiveness of riparian zones in reducing overland flow to streams’, Australian Journal of Soil Research, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 683-98.

Karssies L, & Prosser, IP 2001, ‘Designing grass filter strips to trap sediment and attached nutrient’, Proceedings of third Australian Stream Management Conference, CRC for Catchment Hydrology, pp. 349-353.

Dillaha, TA, Reneau RB, Motaghimi, S & Lee D 1989, ‘Vegetative filter strips for agricultural nonpoint source pollution control’, Transactions ASAE, vol. 32, pp. 513-519.

Table 78. Load-Based Nutrient Delivery Ratio mdoel parameters

Parameter

Description

Units

Default

Min

Max

SLR50

Nutrient delivery ratio when the sediment loading rate is halfway between the threshold and the SLRS

t/km/yr

0.25

0.25

0.8

SLRS

Sediment Loading Rate at Sill - threshold above which all nutrient load goes through

t/km/yr

0

0

SLRT

Sediment Loading Rate Threshold - threshold above which all nutrient load is removed

t/km/yr

0

0

stream length in metres

Stream length over which model is applied

m

1

0