Modelling nitrogen mineralization from manures: representing quality aspects by varying C:N ratio of sub-pools

Probert, M E and Delve, R J and Kimani, S K and Dimes, J P (2005) Modelling nitrogen mineralization from manures: representing quality aspects by varying C:N ratio of sub-pools. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 37 (2). pp. 279-287. ISSN 0038-0717

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Abstract

The mineralization/immobilization of nitrogen when organic sources are added to soil is represented in many simulation models as the outcome of decomposition of the added material and synthesis of soil organic matter. These models are able to capture the pattern of N release that is attributable to the N concentration of plant materials, or more generally the C:N ratio of the organic input. However, the models are unable to simulate the more complex pattern of N release that has been observed for some animal manures, notably materials that exhibit initial immobilization of N even when the C:N of the material suggests it should mineralize N. The APSIM SoilN module was modified so that the three pools that constitute added organic matter could be specified in terms of both the fraction of carbon in each pool and also their C:N ratios (previously it has been assumed that all pools have the same C:N ratio). It is shown that the revised model is better able to simulate the general patterns on N mineralized that has been reported for various organic sources. By associating the model parameters with measured properties (the pool that decomposes most rapidly equates with water-soluble C and N; the pool that decomposes slowest equates with lignin-C) the model performed better than the unmodified model in simulating the N mineralization from a range of feeds and faecal materials measured in an incubation experiment

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Decomposition; N mineralization; Quality factors; Simulation; ModellingDecomposition; N mineralization; Quality factors; Simulation; Modelling
Subjects:	Others > Soil Science
Depositing User:	Ms K Syamalamba
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2013 09:20
Last Modified:	07 Feb 2014 05:32
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6377
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.07.040
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Google Scholar

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