Some mechanistic models have been proposed to predict the No3- concentrations in the soil solution at root surface and the NO3-N uptake by plants, but all these relatively effective non-steady state models have not yet been verified by any soil culture experiment. In the present study, a mathematical model based on the nutrient transport to the roots, root length and root uptake kinetics as well as taking account of the inter-root competition was used for calculation, and soil culture experiments with rice, wheat and rape plants grown on alkali, neutral and acid soils in rhizoboxes with nylon screen as a isolator were carried out to evaluate the prediction ability of the model through comparing the measured NO3-concentrations at root surface and N uptake with the calculated values. Whether the inter-root competition for nutrients was accounted for in the model was of less importance to the calculated N uptake but could induce significant changes in the relative concentrations of NO3- at root surface. Fo Some mechanistic models have been predicted to predict the No3-concentrations in the soil solution at root surface and the NO3-N uptake by plants, but all these relatively effective non-steady state models have not yet verified by any soil culture experiment. In the present study, a mathematical model based on the nutrient transport to the roots, root length and root uptake kinetics as well as taking account of the inter-root competition was used for calculation, and soil culture experiments with rice, wheat and rape plants grown on alkali, neutral and acid soils in rhizoboxes with nylon screen as a isolator were carried out to evaluate the prediction ability of the model through comparing the measured NO3-concentrations at root surface and N uptake with the calculated values. Whether the inter-root competition for nutrients was accounted for in the model was less importance to the calculated N uptake but could induce significant changes in the relative concentrations of NO3- a t root surface. Fo