BODIUM - a systemic approach to model the dynamics of soil functions: validation and scenario simulations

The increasing demand for biomass for food, animal feed, fiber and bioenergy requires optimization of soil productivity, while, at the same time, protecting other soil functions such as nutrient cycling and buffering, carbon storage, habitat for biological activity, and water filter and storage. Therefore, one of the main challenges for sustainable agriculture is to produce high yields while maintaining all the other soil functions. Mechanistic simulation models are an essential tool for predicting soil functions as well as the complex interactions between these functions.

Here, we present our process-based systemic soil model BODIUM which integrates biological, physical and chemical processes to predict the effect of management activities on soil functions at the field scale. We first present simulations of a long-term field experiment to validate our model along the different soil functions. Then we apply different management scenarios to show the potential of our model for explorative scenario simulations, including tillage, different organic fertilizer treatments, and cover crops.

Finally, we discuss ongoing model developments to further extend BODIUM such as bioturbation, phosphorous dynamics, and fungal-bacterial interactions.