Modelling Soil Organic Matter Dynamics – Global Challenges - Sustainable Management of Soil Organic Matter - page 52

U.Frankoand S. Schenk Modellingof Carbon Dynamics

2.2

Modelling of Carbon Dynamics
in a Rural Area of Central
Germany

U. F RANKO AND S. S CHENK

UFZCentre for Environmental Research, Leipzig-Halle, Germany

Introduction

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a very important component of agroeco-
systems. Biological, chemical and physical soil properties are strongly
correlated with the carbon content of the soil, which is the usual indicator
for SOM. It is very important to distinguish between the inert and the
decomposable part of SOM. Turnover processes of this decomposable
SOM lead to a more or less continuous flowing stream of nitrogen and
other nutrients in soil. SOM changes are very slow and poorly indicated by
measurements. Modelling may give faster results about the directions and
amounts of soil organic matter change in the future. This chapter presents
the results of a study in the Chernozem region of central Germany on the
consequences of land use change for organic matter cycling and SOM
dynamics.

Model and Database

The CANDY system integrates a simulation model and a database of
parameters, measurement values, initial values, weather data and manage-
ment data. The user interface not only provides the function for simulation
control but also tools for parameter estimation, risk analysis and recom-
mendation for fertilizer application. The simulation model works on a
daily time step with modules for calculation of soil temperature, moisture
content, the processes of the soil carbon-nitrogen cycle and pesticide