Modelling environmental change in relation to soil physical and biogeochemical processes
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Unlisted
Abstract
Models are an important means to improve our understanding through the testing of different hypotheses and scenarios. In this project we seek to apply integrated knowledge in the form of computer simulation models of agroecosystems to global environmental change (such as the effects of climate change, water and nutrient stress) at different spatial and temporal scales
Specific modelling targets:
1. A model of the formation and movement of DOC in soil that will allow us to explore (i) the movement of carbon from surface to subsoil, (ii) the role played by dissolved organic matter in altering the physical environment of soil.
2. A combined model of the effects of drought, strong soil, nutrient stresses on plants growing in soils with changing environmental condtitions that will allow us to explore the interacting effects of these stresses in agricultural ecosystems locally and globally.
Specific modelling targets:
1. A model of the formation and movement of DOC in soil that will allow us to explore (i) the movement of carbon from surface to subsoil, (ii) the role played by dissolved organic matter in altering the physical environment of soil.
2. A combined model of the effects of drought, strong soil, nutrient stresses on plants growing in soils with changing environmental condtitions that will allow us to explore the interacting effects of these stresses in agricultural ecosystems locally and globally.
Publications
Bhogal A
(2011)
Effects of recent and accumulated livestock manure carbon additions on soil fertility and quality
in European Journal of Soil Science
Bird N
(2009)
Modeling Dynamic Fragmentation of Soil
in Vadose Zone Journal
Glendining M
(2009)
Is it possible to increase the sustainability of arable and ruminant agriculture by reducing inputs?
in Agricultural Systems
Glendining M
(2011)
Pedotransfer functions for estimating total soil nitrogen up to the global scale
in European Journal of Soil Science
Gregory A
(2014)
An assessment of subsoil organic carbon stocks in England and Wales
in Soil Use and Management
Gregory A
(2012)
An assessment of a new model of dynamic fragmentation of soil with test data
in Soil and Tillage Research
Hathaway-Jenkins L
(2011)
A comparison of soil and water properties in organic and conventional farming systems in England Comparing soil and water properties between farming systems
in Soil Use and Management
Morell F
(2011)
Root respiration of barley in a semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystem: field and modelling approaches
in Plant and Soil
Papadopoulos A
(2008)
Fractal Analysis of Pore Roughness in Images of Soil Using the Slit Island Method
in Vadose Zone Journal
| Description | Intercropping different species is potentially able to reduce the amount of nitrate leaching from agriculture Nitrogen in soils for global ecosystem models can be adequately estimated from soil carbon and texture and latitude |
| Exploitation Route | Water companies and retailers interested in reducing N emissions may be interested in our strategies for reducing Losses of N to the environment Global ecosystem models require initialisation. Previous models forecast emissions of CO2 from soil without taking account of the nitrogen cycle we have developed means to do this |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | BBSRC ISP S2N ASSIST |
| Amount | £8,500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | BBSRC NERC ISP NC |
| Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 03/2022 |