Spatio‐Temporal Simulation of the Field‐Scale Evolution of Organic Carbon over the Landscape

The spatial or temporal variability of soil has been extensively considered in the literature using either experimental or modeling approaches. However, only a few studies integrate both spatial and temporal dimensions. The aim of this paper is to present a method for field-scale simulations of the spatio-temporal evolution of topsoil organic C (OC) at the landscape scale over a few decades and under different management strategies. A virtual landscape with characteristics matching part of Brittany (France) was considered for the study. Stochastic simulations and regression analysis were used to simulate spatial fields with known spatial structures: short-range, medium-range, and long-range variability. These were then combined using an additive model of regionalization. Agricultural land use was simulated considering four different land uses: permanent pasture, temporary pasture, annual cereal crops, and maize (Zea mays L.). Land use evolution over time was simulated using transition matrices. Evolution of soil organic matter was estimated each year for each pixel through a rudimentary balance model that accounts for land use and the influence of soil waterlogging on mineralization rates. This spatio-temporal simulation approach at the landscape level allowed the simulation of several scales of soil variability including within-field variability. Spatial variability decreased drastically over time when only the influence of land use was considered. This effect on soil variability over the landscape may have implications for site-specific soil management and precision agriculture. The presence of redoximorphic conditions was found to maintain soil spatial variability.

[1]  M. Leok.  The use of , 1996 .

[2]  J. Ibáñez,et al.  Pedodiversity: concepts and measures , 1995 .

[3]  R. Olea.  Geostatistics for Natural Resources Evaluation By Pierre Goovaerts, Oxford University Press, Applied Geostatistics Series, 1997, 483 p., hardcover, $65 (U.S.), ISBN 0-19-511538-4 , 1999 .

[4]  Richard Webster,et al.  Estimating temporal change in soil monitoring: I. Statistical theory , 1995 .

[5]  P.F.M. van Gaans,et al.  Future trends, detectable by soil monitoring networks? , 1998 .

[6]  Thomas H Meyer,et al.  Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications , 2001 .

[7]  Pete Smith,et al.  Soil organic matter , 2013 .

[8]  K. Paustian,et al.  Soil carbon pools and fluxes in long-term corn belt agroecosystems , 2000 .

[9]  M. Bernoux,et al.  The use of stable carbon isotopes for estimating soil organic matter turnover rates , 1998 .

[10]  M. Roy,et al.  Évolution chimique des sols en exploitations d'élevage intensif : exemple du Finistère , 1993 .

[11]  Pete Smith,et al.  Modeling Carbon and Nitrogen Processes in Soils , 1997 .

[12]  Martial Bernoux,et al.  SOIL CARBON STORAGE PREDICTION IN TEMPERATE HYDROMORPHIC SOILS USING A MORPHOLOGIC INDEX AND DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL , 2001 .

[13]  Christian Walter,et al.  Improving soil hydromorphy prediction according to DEM resolution and available pedological data , 2000 .

[14]  J. TINSLEY,et al.  Humus Chemistry , 1973, Nature.

[15]  Pierre Goovaerts,et al.  Estimation or simulation of soil properties? An optimization problem with conflicting criteria , 2000 .

[16]  Jörg Richter,et al.  C and N accumulation in arable soils of West Germany and its influence on the environment — Developments 1970 to 1998 , 2000 .

[17]  Noel A Cressie,et al.  Statistics for Spatial Data. , 1992 .

[18]  D. Arrouays,et al.  Soil organic carbon dynamics in cleared temperate forest spodosols converted to maize cropping , 1997, Plant and Soil.

[19]  David S. Powlson,et al.  Potential for carbon sequestration in European soils: preliminary estimates for five scenarios using results from long‐term experiments , 1997 .

[20]  M. Hauhs,et al.  Ecosystem modelling : science or technology ? , 1990 .

[21]  J. Oades.  The role of biology in the formation, stabilization and degradation of soil structure , 1993 .

[22]  Johan Six,et al.  Aggregate and Soil Organic Matter Dynamics under Conventional and No-Tillage Systems , 1999 .

[23]  J. Balesdent,et al.  Medium‐term transformations of organic N in a cultivated soil , 1995 .

[24]  J. Philip.  SOILS, NATURAL SCIENCE, AND MODELS , 1991 .