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NDICEA Calibration and validation on a northern UK soil

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Abstract

Modelling nitrogen (N) dynamics in agricultural soils can improve our understanding of the nitrogen cycle in rotational systems. NDICEA (Nitrogen Dynamics in Crop rotations in Ecological Agriculture) is a tool to model soil N dynamics for maximum nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and minimum environmental impacts from agricultural fertilization. In this study the model was calibrated using actual soil mineral N data from 2 years of a long-term organic versus conventional systems comparison trial. Calibration data was used from only the organic crop protection treatments for an organic crop rotation under (a) organic fertility management (ORG-OF) and (b) conventional fertility management (ORG-CF), and a conventional crop rotation under (c) organic fertility management (CON-OF), and (d) conventional fertility management (CON-CF). The model was subsequently validated using the same four treatment combinations from the conventional crop protection treatments. The accuracy of soil mineral N predictions was consistently improved after calibration, with the model performing best under organic fertilization regimes; reflecting the model’s original purpose. The lack of difference among treatments for the calibrated soil parameters demonstrated that the calibration procedure was robust and could result in a model that is superior to the non-calibrated one, and specific for this soil type, regardless of soil management practices. The simplification of complex biological processes into model parameters limits the use of NDICEA as a tool to explain the underlying processes driving soil N dynamics. Nevertheless it could be a useful tool for visualising field-scale N dynamics, allowing farmers and advisors to explore the impact of changing management factors on within-field N efficiency.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Gavin Hall and Rachel Chapman (both from Newcastle University, UK) for providing the soil and crop samples which were collected as part of the Integrated Project NUE-CROPS EU-FP7 222–645, funded by the European Community under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities. Thanks to Geert Jan van der Burgt for guidance and advice on NDICEA use over many years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nafferton Ecological Farming Group (NEFG), Newcastle University, Nafferton Farm, Stocksfield, NE43 7XD, UK

    Eleanor Y. Swain, Carlo Leifert & Julia M. Cooper

  2. School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK

    Mftah Almadni & Elizabeth A. Stockdale

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  1. Eleanor Y. Swain
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  2. Mftah Almadni
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  3. Carlo Leifert
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  4. Elizabeth A. Stockdale
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  5. Julia M. Cooper
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Correspondence to Julia M. Cooper.

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Swain, E.Y., Almadni, M., Leifert, C. et al. NDICEA Calibration and validation on a northern UK soil. Org. Agr. 6, 267–280 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-015-0134-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-015-0134-2

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