Modelling nitrogen leaching : are we getting the right answer for the right reason?

dc.contributor.authorVan der Laan, Michael
dc.contributor.authorAnnandale, John George
dc.contributor.authorBristow, Keith L.
dc.contributor.authorStirzaker, Richard John
dc.contributor.authorDu Preez, C.C.
dc.contributor.authorThorburn, P.J.
dc.contributor.emailmichael.vanderlaan@up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-05-20T10:07:37Z
dc.date.available2014-05-20T10:07:37Z
dc.date.issued2014-02
dc.description.abstractThe complexities and challenges in quantifying N leaching have led to development of a range of measurement and modelling techniques, but none are widely applied. Observations that N moves more slowly than water through the soil profile has resulted in different approaches being used to simulate impeded N movement in crop models: (i) by accounting for nitrate NO−3 adsorption to the soil, (ii) by considering incomplete mixing between resident and draining soil water fractions or (iii) a combination of both.We compare and discuss strengths and weaknesses of these approaches. Our inability to directly measure model parameters (especially with regards to simulating N dynamics), and the risk of compensating errors during model testing and calibration, often results in low confidence in simulated N leaching. We caution that our current ability to simulate N leaching is in most cases not yet well enough developed for reliable and accurate predictions. We recommend a more strategic approach involving better linking measurement and modelling to improve understanding of the critical soil processes that control N leaching as one way of further improving our understanding and quantification of N leaching.en_US
dc.description.librarianhb2014en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwaten_US
dc.identifier.citationVan der Laan, M, Annandale, JG, Bristow, KL, Stirzaker, RJ, Du Preez, CC & Thorburn, PJ 2014, 'Modelling nitrogen leaching : are we getting the right answer for the right reason', Agricultural Water Management, vol. 133, pp. 74-80.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0378-3774 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1873-2283 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.agwat.2013.10.017
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/39819
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.rights© 2013 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Agricultural Water Management. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Agricultural Water Management, vol. 133, pp.74-80. 2014. doi : 10.1016/j.agwat.2013.10.017en_US
dc.subjectAPSIMen_US
dc.subjectDSSATen_US
dc.subjectNitrateen_US
dc.subjectSWB-Scien_US
dc.titleModelling nitrogen leaching : are we getting the right answer for the right reason?en_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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