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Project Code [2000-LS-2.2.2-M2]
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Project title
Eutrophication from Agriculture Sources (Phosphorus and Nitrogen) - Modelling P Losses from Soils
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
Teagasc
Lead Applicant
Kim Reilly
Project Abstract
This project has targeted one of the WFD objectives which focuses on modelling non-point phosphorus loss from rural catchments. It focuses on physically-based catchment scale models which to date have not been applied to model phosphorus losses in Ireland. In the work three very different catchment models range from semi-empirical to fully physically-based distributed models have been selected to compare their performances in quantifying phosphorus loss from three different rural catchments (Clarianna Dripsey and Oona). The models were selected to be (a) representative of different degree of physical and spatial complexity and (b) readily available. The models are Soil Water and Analysis Tools (SWAT) Hydrological Simulation Program i FORTRAN (HSPF) and Systime Hydrologique Europien TRAnsport (SHETRAN). The SHETRAN model is the most complex of the three but does not have a phosphorus modelling component. Because of this a special phosphorus module was developed as part of this project. The phosphorus component was designed in a generic way so that it can be used with any physically-based distributed hydrological model. Because the modelled catchment should be represented on an orthogonal grid the phosphorus component was named the Grid Oriented Phosphorus Component (GOPC) by the authors.As part of the model calibration process for each catchment (Clarianna Dripsey and Oona) the influence of the most effective parameters on the three models outputs (including the developed phosphorus component) was examined. This information is useful in providing guidelines for using the models in the Irish conditions.
Grant Approved
�123,697.88
Research Hub
Natural Environment
Research Theme
Improve our Knowledge on the State of our Water Resources and Pressures
Initial Projected Completion Date
n/a