Comparing predictions of long-term soil carbon dynamics under various cropping management systems using K-model and CENTURY

Authors

  • Tao Li International Rice Research Institute
  • Xiaomei Li Green Carbon Inc.
  • Yongsheng Feng University of Alberta

Keywords:

K-model, CENTURY model, soil organic carbon (SOC), dynamics, rotation, fertilizer

Abstract

There is a strong demand for accurate estimates of long-term changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) with different agricultural practices under different soil and climate conditions. A process and analytic model, K-model, including a non-compartmental algorithm of soil carbon decomposition, was developed to simulate the changes of SOC under different cropping and soil management practices. This study evaluates the performance of K-model by comparing its predictions on SOC with measurements and predictions of CENTURY model, which is widely used for the similar purposes. Both K-model and CENTURY can predict the dynamics of SOC when site-specific soil and climate data are used to initialize simulations. Very similar annual carbon decomposition rates were simulated by the single carbon pool K-model and the 3-carbon pool CENTURY model. However, compared with experimental measurements of SOC, K-model produces relative smaller errors than CENTURY (<0.1 kg C m-2 vs. 0.08-0.48 kg C m-2, and within

Author Biographies

Tao Li, International Rice Research Institute

Research Scientist

Xiaomei Li, Green Carbon Inc.

Chief Scientist, XY Green Carbon Inc., 1124 111A ST Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6J 6R9. Tel: +1 780 932-0339; Fax: +1 780 492-4346

Yongsheng Feng, University of Alberta

Research interests lie in soil physics including dynamic processes of mass and energy transport in the soil-plant-atmosphere system and the effects of these processes on plant growth and environmental quality. 436 Earth Science Building, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3 Canada

References

[1] Cai Z C, Qin S W. Dynamics of crop yields and soil organic carbon in a long-term fertilization experiment in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China. Geoderma, 2006; 136(3-4): 708-715.
[2] Dolan M S, Clapp C E, Allmaras R R, Baker J M, Molina J A E. Soil organic carbon and nitrogen in a Minnesota soil as related to tillage, residue and nitrogen management. Soil & Tillage Research, 2006; 89(2): 221-231.
[3] Fliebbach A, Oberholzer H, Gunst L, M?der P. Soil organic matter and biological soil quality indicators after 21 years of organic and conventional farming. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2007; 118(1-4): 273-284.
[4] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change. The Scientific basis: Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the intergovernmental Panel on climate change, 2001; Cambridge University Press, New York.
[5] Jarecki M K, Lal R, James R. Crop management effects on soil carbon sequestration on selected farmers

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Published

2012-12-10

How to Cite

Li, T., Li, X., & Feng, Y. (2012). Comparing predictions of long-term soil carbon dynamics under various cropping management systems using K-model and CENTURY. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 5(4), 15–30. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/590

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2012): IJABE

Section

Natural Resources and Environmental Systems

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