EGU21-11129
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11129
EGU General Assembly 2021
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Systemic soil modelling and the evaluation of functions

Ulrich Weller1,4, Sara König1,4, Bibiana Betancur-Corredor2,4, Birgit Lang2,4, Mareike Ließ1,4, Stefanie Mayer3,4, Thomas Reitz1,4, Bastian Stößel1,4, Hans-Jörg Vogel1,4, Martin Wiesmeier3,4, and Ute Wollschläger1,4
Ulrich Weller et al.
  • 1Soil System Sciences, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany (ulrich.weller@ufz.de)
  • 2Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany
  • 3TUM Technical University of Munich, Germany
  • 4BonaRes – Centre for Soil Research, Germany

We developed an integrated model of soil processes – the Bodium – that enables us to predict possible changes in soil functions under varying agricultural management and climatic change.

The model combines current knowledge on soil processes by integrating state-of-the-art modules on plant growth, root development, soil carbon and matter turnover with new concepts with respect to soil hydrology and soil structure dynamics. The model domain is at profile scale, with 1D nodes of variable thickness and weight. It is tested with long-term field experiments to ensure a consistent output of the combined modules. The model is site-specific and works with different soil types and climates (weather scenarios).

The output can be interpreted towards a broad spectrum of soil functions. Plant production and nutrient balances can be determined directly. The same is possible for water dynamics, with potential surface runoff (as infiltration surplus), storage and percolation together with travel time and groundwater recharge. In addition, nitrate losses are calculated, and the travel time distribution can help with the evaluation of pesticide percolation risk. To evaluate the habitat for biological activity, the activity is calculated in terms of carbon turnover, and the state variables carbon availability, water, air and temperature for the are accessible. Also, for macrofauna the earthworm activity is included. The comparison of scenario runs can be evaluated quantitatively in terms of potential developments of soil functions.

The model is work in progress. Further modules that will be implemented are pH dynamics, more explicit microbial activity, and a more complete set of effects of agricultural management on soil structure are integrated.

How to cite: Weller, U., König, S., Betancur-Corredor, B., Lang, B., Ließ, M., Mayer, S., Reitz, T., Stößel, B., Vogel, H.-J., Wiesmeier, M., and Wollschläger, U.: Systemic soil modelling and the evaluation of functions, EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-11129, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11129, 2021.

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