Pesticide Fate and Transport Modeling in Watershed Systems

Pesticide fate and transport modelling in watershed systems integrates hydrology, chemistry and land-use dynamics to predict the movement, transformation and ultimate distribution of pesticide compounds from source areas to receiving waters. Models typically couple rainfall-runoff processes with soil water flow, sorption–desorption kinetics, degradation pathways and the generation of transformation products, enabling quantitative estimation of peak loads, chronic concentrations and spatio-temporal concentration patterns. Semi-distributed frameworks partition a catchment into hydrological response units to capture variability in soil properties, topography and management practices. Such models support risk assessments for aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies by identifying critical source areas, testing mitigation measures—such as buffer strips or controlled drainage—and forecasting the consequences of changing climate and cropping regimes. Advances in remote-sensing data assimilation, high-resolution rainfall inputs and process-based degradation modules have improved model realism, while sensitivity and uncertainty analyses guide parameter prioritisation. Globally, these tools underpin regulatory standards, inform best management practices and facilitate adaptive watershed management, bridging scientific insight and practical decision-making.

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Pesticide Fate and Transport Modeling in Watershed Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in pesticide fate and transport modeling in watershed systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Hydrological model: A mathematical representation of water movement through precipitation, infiltration, runoff and streamflow processes within a catchment.

Sorption: Reversible retention of pesticide molecules on soil particles, encompassing adsorption to surfaces and absorption into organic matter.

Tile drainage: Subsurface agricultural drains designed to remove excess water from the root zone, acting as preferential pathways for water and solutes.

Transformation products: Chemical compounds formed by the degradation or biotransformation of parent pesticides, which may exhibit distinct mobility and toxicity.

References

1. A spatio-temporal analysis of environmental fate and transport processes of pesticides and their transformation products in agricultural landscapes dominated by subsurface drainage with SWAT+. The Science of The Total Environment (2024).
2. Technical note: Extending the SWAT model to transport chemicals through tile and groundwater flow. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (2023).
3. Development and application of a catchment scale pesticide fate and transport model for use in drinking water risk assessment. The Science of The Total Environment (2016).