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Development of Best Turfgrass Management Practices Using the DAYCENT Model
Author(s) -
Zhang Yao,
Qian Yaling,
Mecham Brent,
Parton William J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2012.0487
Subject(s) - lysimeter , environmental science , evapotranspiration , agronomy , irrigation , leaching (pedology) , ecosystem , soil water , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , ecology , biology , geotechnical engineering , engineering
To predict the best management practices for Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) lawns in Colorado, the DAYCENT ecosystem model was parameterized and applied on a turfgrass ecosystem. In this study, field‐measured data on clipping yields, leaf N content, evapotranspiration (ET), deep percolation, nitrate leaching, and soil temperature from a 3‐yr lysimeter study were used for parameterization and validation. The simulation result for clipping yield was improved compared to the monthly time step CENTURY ecosystem model, with correlation coefficient ( r ) increased from −0.32 to 0.74. The prediction of ET and deep percolation was acceptable for the 3 yr. The long‐term irrigation and fertilization effects on Kentucky bluegrass biomass and soil C and N were also examined. We predicted a 50% reduction in the annual net production as irrigation decreases from 100% potential evapotranspiration (PET) to 60% PET in this semiarid region. The simulation result suggests that the annual fertilization rates should be gradually reduced for both moderately and highly managed lawns with increasing age of the turfgrass stand.