Modelling and measurement of the nitrogen cycle in a vegetable field in Switzerland. I. A soil‐plant model for the nitrogen cycle

Correct nitrogen fertilization is particularly important in vegetable growing, because not only the nitrate content of the product but also leaching of nitrate into the groundwater is affected. To apply the appropriate amount of fertilizer at the right time, the supply of plant‐available nitrate throughout the whole vegetation period has to be known. This may be achieved by repeated soil nitrate measurements (KNS‐System), however, the work involved in carrying out soil analyses is considerable. A reliable nitrogen‐prediction‐model would facilitate the task. A dynamic system model for the nitrogen cycle in a soil‐plant system is presented to predict yield, nitrate uptake and nitrogen leaching. To account for particularities of the site, specific information collected from the soil profile is required as input. Expected growth and nitrate uptake of the plant, the amount of fertilizer and plant residues applied, time of cultivation and climatic information are also required (list of inputs in table 1). Simulated crop growth is driven by potential relative growth which is dependent on the air temperature. Exponential growth is restricted by either a factor for maximal weight of a single plant, by maximal yield of the crop or by shortage of nitrogen in the plant. The nitrate uptake into the plant is governed by passive uptake through transpiration. It may be enhanced by a sink factor for active uptake when the simulated nitrogen content in the plant is lower than the expected value. Nitrate uptake thus depends on transpiration, water and nitrate availability in the rooted soil layers. Water (and hence nitrate) transport through the soil profile is divided into rapid transport in the macropores of the soil for a water content above field capacity and slow transport in the soil matrix for a water content below field capacity; the corresponding transfer factors have to be estimated in the field. As revealed by a sensitivity analysis (table 2) the input parameters having the greatest influence on final yield and nitrate uptake of lettuce are air and soil temperature, precipitation and the water content at field capacity. Parameters which increase nitrate availability have a favourable effect on nitrate uptake. Nitrate leaching over winter from a fallow plot is approximately proportional to water loss below the rooted soil layers; thus precipitation and water content at field capacity are the main factors affecting nitrate leaching. Calibration and validation of the model against data collected from a commercial vegetable field with different crops is presented in part II of the paper.