Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data
Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics result from different interacting processes and controls on spatial scales from sub-aggregate to pedon to the whole ecosystem. These complex dynamics are translated into models as abundant degrees of freedom. This high number of not directly measurable variables an...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-05-01
|
Series: | Biogeosciences |
Online Access: | http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/3003/2016/bg-13-3003-2016.pdf |
id |
doaj-17bb9372875843a89367037a11594930 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-17bb9372875843a89367037a115949302020-11-24T23:07:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892016-05-0113103003301910.5194/bg-13-3003-2016Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field dataL. Menichetti0T. Kätterer1J. Leifeld2Agroscope, Climate/Air Pollution Group, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, SwedenAgroscope, Climate/Air Pollution Group, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, SwitzerlandSoil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics result from different interacting processes and controls on spatial scales from sub-aggregate to pedon to the whole ecosystem. These complex dynamics are translated into models as abundant degrees of freedom. This high number of not directly measurable variables and, on the other hand, very limited data at disposal result in equifinality and parameter uncertainty. <br><br> Carbon radioisotope measurements are a proxy for SOC age both at annual to decadal (bomb peak based) and centennial to millennial timescales (radio decay based), and thus can be used in addition to total organic C for constraining SOC models. By considering this additional information, uncertainties in model structure and parameters may be reduced. <br><br> To test this hypothesis we studied SOC dynamics and their defining kinetic parameters in the Zürich Organic Fertilization Experiment (ZOFE) experiment, a > 60-year-old controlled cropland experiment in Switzerland, by utilizing SOC and SO<sup>14</sup>C time series. To represent different processes we applied five model structures, all stemming from a simple mother model (Introductory Carbon Balance Model – ICBM): (I) two decomposing pools, (II) an inert pool added, (III) three decomposing pools, (IV) two decomposing pools with a substrate control feedback on decomposition, (V) as IV but with also an inert pool. These structures were extended to explicitly represent total SOC and <sup>14</sup>C pools. <br><br> The use of different model structures allowed us to explore model structural uncertainty and the impact of <sup>14</sup>C on kinetic parameters. We considered parameter uncertainty by calibrating in a formal Bayesian framework. <br><br> By varying the relative importance of total SOC and SO<sup>14</sup>C data in the calibration, we could quantify the effect of the information from these two data streams on estimated model parameters. The weighing of the two data streams was crucial for determining model outcomes, and we suggest including it in future modeling efforts whenever SO<sup>14</sup>C data are available. <br><br> The measurements and all model structures indicated a dramatic decline in SOC in the ZOFE experiment after an initial land use change in 1949 from grass- to cropland, followed by a constant but smaller decline. According to all structures, the three treatments (control, mineral fertilizer, farmyard manure) we considered were still far from equilibrium. The estimates of mean residence time (MRT) of the C pools defined by our models were sensitive to the consideration of the SO<sup>14</sup>C data stream. Model structure had a smaller effect on estimated MRT, which ranged between 5.9 ± 0.1 and 4.2 ± 0.1 years and 78.9 ± 0.1 and 98.9 ± 0.1 years for young and old pools, respectively, for structures without substrate interactions. <br><br> The simplest model structure performed the best according to information criteria, validating the idea that we still lack data for mechanistic SOC models. Although we could not exclude any of the considered processes possibly involved in SOC decomposition, it was not possible to discriminate their relative importance.http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/3003/2016/bg-13-3003-2016.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
L. Menichetti T. Kätterer J. Leifeld |
spellingShingle |
L. Menichetti T. Kätterer J. Leifeld Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data Biogeosciences |
author_facet |
L. Menichetti T. Kätterer J. Leifeld |
author_sort |
L. Menichetti |
title |
Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
title_short |
Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
title_full |
Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
title_fullStr |
Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
title_full_unstemmed |
Parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
title_sort |
parametrization consequences of constraining soil organic matter models by total carbon and radiocarbon using long-term field data |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Biogeosciences |
issn |
1726-4170 1726-4189 |
publishDate |
2016-05-01 |
description |
Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics result from different
interacting processes and controls on spatial scales from sub-aggregate to
pedon to the whole ecosystem. These complex dynamics are translated into
models as abundant degrees of freedom. This high number of not directly
measurable variables and, on the other hand, very limited data at disposal
result in equifinality and parameter uncertainty.
<br><br>
Carbon radioisotope measurements are a proxy for SOC age both at annual to
decadal (bomb peak based) and centennial to millennial timescales (radio
decay based), and thus can be used in addition to total organic C for
constraining SOC models. By considering this additional information,
uncertainties in model structure and parameters may be reduced.
<br><br>
To test this hypothesis we studied SOC dynamics and their defining kinetic
parameters in the Zürich Organic Fertilization Experiment (ZOFE) experiment, a > 60-year-old controlled
cropland experiment in Switzerland, by utilizing SOC and SO<sup>14</sup>C
time series. To represent different processes we applied five model
structures, all stemming from a simple mother model (Introductory Carbon Balance Model – ICBM): (I) two
decomposing pools, (II) an inert pool added, (III) three decomposing pools,
(IV) two decomposing pools with a substrate control feedback on
decomposition, (V) as IV but with also an inert pool. These structures were
extended to explicitly represent total SOC and <sup>14</sup>C pools.
<br><br>
The use of different model structures allowed us to explore model structural
uncertainty and the impact of <sup>14</sup>C on kinetic parameters. We considered
parameter uncertainty by calibrating in a formal Bayesian framework.
<br><br>
By varying the relative importance of total SOC and SO<sup>14</sup>C data in the
calibration, we could quantify the effect of the information from these two
data streams on estimated model parameters. The weighing of the two data
streams was crucial for determining model outcomes, and we suggest including
it in future modeling efforts whenever SO<sup>14</sup>C data are available.
<br><br>
The measurements and all model structures indicated a dramatic decline in SOC
in the ZOFE experiment after an initial land use change in 1949 from grass-
to cropland, followed by a constant but smaller decline. According to all
structures, the three treatments (control, mineral fertilizer, farmyard
manure) we considered were still far from equilibrium. The estimates of mean residence time (MRT) of the C pools defined by our models were sensitive to
the consideration of the SO<sup>14</sup>C data stream. Model structure had a
smaller effect on estimated MRT, which ranged between 5.9 ± 0.1 and
4.2 ± 0.1 years and 78.9 ± 0.1 and 98.9 ± 0.1 years for young
and old pools, respectively, for structures without substrate interactions.
<br><br>
The simplest model structure performed the best according to information
criteria, validating the idea that we still lack data for mechanistic SOC
models. Although we could not exclude any of the considered processes
possibly involved in SOC decomposition, it was not possible to discriminate
their relative importance. |
url |
http://www.biogeosciences.net/13/3003/2016/bg-13-3003-2016.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT lmenichetti parametrizationconsequencesofconstrainingsoilorganicmattermodelsbytotalcarbonandradiocarbonusinglongtermfielddata AT tkatterer parametrizationconsequencesofconstrainingsoilorganicmattermodelsbytotalcarbonandradiocarbonusinglongtermfielddata AT jleifeld parametrizationconsequencesofconstrainingsoilorganicmattermodelsbytotalcarbonandradiocarbonusinglongtermfielddata |
_version_ |
1725619446500818944 |