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Title: DayCent model simulations for estimating soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas fluxes from agricultural production systems

Author
item Del Grosso, Stephen - Steve
item PARTON, W - Colorado State University
item Adler, Paul
item DAVIS, SARAH - University Of Illinois
item KEOGH, CINDY - Colorado State University
item MARX, ERNEST - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2011
Publication Date: 6/8/2012
Citation: Del Grosso, S.J., Parton, W., Adler, P.R., Davis, S., Keogh, C., Marx, E. 2012. DayCent model simulations for estimating soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas fluxes from agricultural production systems. Book Chapter. New York, NY: Elsevier Inc. p. 241-250.

Interpretive Summary: DayCent is a computer model of intermediate complexity used to simulate carbon, nutrient, and greenhouse gas fluxes for crop, grassland, forest, and savanna ecosystems. Model inputs include: soil texture and hydraulic properties, current and historical land use, vegetation cover, daily maximum and minimum temperature, and daily precipitation. The latest version allows daily (instead of monthly) scheduling of management events and calculates plant production at a daily (instead of weekly) time step. The ability of the model to simulate crop yields, soil carbon changes, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching was tested using data from different irrigated and rainfed cropping systems. DayCent has recently been applied to calculate nitrous oxide emissions from cropped and grazed soils for the U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and to calculate greenhouse gas emissions for ethanol cropping systems. Future versions of the model will more completely represent the range of greenhouse gas mitigation options available with current technologies.

Technical Abstract: DayCent is a biogeochemical model of intermediate complexity used to simulate carbon, nutrient, and greenhouse gas fluxes for crop, grassland, forest, and savanna ecosystems. Model inputs include: soil texture and hydraulic properties, current and historical land use, vegetation cover, daily maximum and minimum temperature, and daily precipitation. The latest version allows daily (instead of monthly) scheduling of management events and calculates plant production at a daily (instead of weekly) time step. The ability of the model to simulate crop yields, soil carbon changes, N2O emissions, and NO3 leaching was tested using data from different irrigated and rainfed cropping systems. DayCent has recently been applied to calculate N2O emissions from cropped and grazed soils for the U.S. National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and to perform life cycle analysis of greenhouse gas fluxes for biofuel cropping systems. Future versions of the model will more completely represent the range of greenhouse gas mitigation options available with current technologies.