AMPSOM: A measureable pool soil organic carbon and nitrogen model for arable cropping systems

Abstract

Most cropping system models simulate conceptual soil organic matter (SOM) pools, such as active, passive and slow pools that cannot be measured, complicating model calibration. In reality, SOM can be described in terms of quantifiable pools of particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) which respond differently to management and climate. We present the AMPSOM model, integrated in a cropping system modelling framework (SIMPLACE). AMPSOM simulates carbon and nitrogen dynamics in MAOM and POM in response to crop growth and management, as well as soil texture, water and nitrogen content and temperature. It also simulates the radiocarbon isotope (¹⁴C) of soil organic carbon (SOC) to constrain the turnover time of slowly cycling SOC pools. Model calibration and evaluation were performed for thirty six sandy and loamy arable soils in Brandenburg, Germany. Results show that AMPSOM can reproduce observed patterns of SOC and nitrogen stocks in POM and MAOM along depth profiles across different soil types.