Abstract
Preferential flow is an important process for pesticide transport through a wide range of soils and this phenomenon should be considered in regulatory assessments for pesticide leaching to ground and surface waters. One of the simulation models available for these purposes (MACRO) and its database version, which allows automatic parameter selection (MACRO_DB), are described in this paper. The main concepts of the models and their current role within pesticide regulation are reviewed. A study on the evaluation of MACRO and MACRO_DB against four UK datasets is summarised. This suggested that MACRO is likely to continue to be the preferred preferential flow model for regulatory purposes. The model is user-friendly and well-documented and was shown to predict leaching through a wide range of soils with some degree of accuracy. However, parameter selection for MACRO requires expert soil physics knowledge and the model should only be applied by an experienced user. A comprehensive calibration step should be included wherever possible. The philosophy behind MACRO_DB to automatically select parameters from basic soil information is commendable, but some of the estimation algorithms need to be improved. Overall, the importance of preferential flow modelling within pesticide registration is likely to increase as more results of validation studies and guidance to the user become available.
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Beulke, S., Brown, C.D., Jarvis, N.J. (2001). Macro: A Preferential Flow Model to Simulate Pesticide Leaching and Movement to Drains. In: Linders, J.B.H.J. (eds) Modelling of Environmental Chemical Exposure and Risk. NATO ASI Series, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0884-6_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0884-6_12
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