IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v152y2015icp262-276.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Use of the SWB-Sci model for nitrogen management in sludge-amended land

Author

Listed:
  • Tesfamariam, Eyob H.
  • Annandale, John G.
  • Steyn, Joachim M.
  • Stirzaker, Richard J.
  • Mbakwe, Ikenna

Abstract

Process-based computer simulation models are often used as reasoning support tools to integrate the complex processes involved in the soil-plant-atmosphere system. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the SWB-Sci model as a reasoning support tool for sludge management in agricultural lands, and use the validated model to assess the long-term agronomic and environmental implications of water availability and crop intensity on sludge-amended land. The model was calibrated for the test crops, maize (Zea mays Pan6966) and oats (Avena sativa L.), using data collected during the 2004/2005 growing season from irrigated plots at the East Rand Water Care Works, Gauteng, South Africa. Model validation was performed using independent data sets collected during the 2004/2005 to 2007/2008 growing seasons. The model was successfully calibrated for maize and oats as all the statistical parameters were within the prescribed ranges [index of agreement (d) >0.8; relative mean absolute error (MAE%) <20%; coefficient of determination (R2) >0.8]. The results indicate that SWB-Sci simulated aboveground biomass (TDM) and grain yield (GY) of maize and oats with high accuracy (d>0.85, MAE% ≤20%, and R2>0.91) but with a slight overestimation by 0.2–4Mgha−1. The model predicted nitrate leaching and crop N uptake reasonably well (d>0.85, MAE% ≤14%, and R2>0.8), with slight overestimation of TDM and GY N uptake by 11–57 and 4–48kgha−1, respectively. Long-term model simulations indicate that fixed sludge application rate recommendations generated from laboratory incubation studies may in the long-term result in spontaneous excessive nitrate leaching below the active root zone during high rainfall events, if recommendations do not consider N contribution from soil organic matter. Modelling also showed that leaving room for rain during each irrigation event may minimize the risk of nitrate leaching.

Suggested Citation

  • Tesfamariam, Eyob H. & Annandale, John G. & Steyn, Joachim M. & Stirzaker, Richard J. & Mbakwe, Ikenna, 2015. "Use of the SWB-Sci model for nitrogen management in sludge-amended land," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 262-276.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:152:y:2015:i:c:p:262-276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.01.023
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377415000414
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2015.01.023?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Blum, Julius & Melfi, Adolpho José & Montes, Célia Regina & Gomes, Tamara Maria, 2013. "Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching in a tropical Brazilian soil cropped with sugarcane and irrigated with treated sewage effluent," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 115-122.
    2. Arbat, G. & Roselló, A. & Domingo Olivé, F. & Puig-Bargués, J. & González Llinàs, E. & Duran-Ros, M. & Pujol, J. & Ramírez de Cartagena, F., 2013. "Soil water and nitrate distribution under drip irrigated corn receiving pig slurry," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 11-22.
    3. Kropff, M. J. & Bouma, J. & Jones, J. W., 2001. "Systems approaches for the design of sustainable agro-ecosystems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 70(2-3), pages 369-393.
    4. Cameira, M. R. & Fernando, R. M. & Pereira, L. S., 2003. "Monitoring water and NO3-N in irrigated maize fields in the Sorraia Watershed, Portugal," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 199-216, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ogbazghi, Z.M. & Tesfamariam, E.H. & Annandale, J.G., 2016. "Modelling N mineralisation from sludge-amended soils across agro-ecological zones: A case study from South Africa," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 322(C), pages 19-30.
    2. Eyob Habte Tesfamariam & Zekarias Mihreteab Ogbazghi & John George Annandale & Yemane Gebrehiwot, 2020. "Cost–Benefit Analysis of Municipal Sludge as a Low-Grade Nutrient Source: A Case Study from South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Videla-Mensegue, H. & Caviglia, O.P. & Sadras, V.O., 2022. "Functional crop types are more important than diversity for the productivity, profit and risk of crop sequences in the inner Argentinean Pampas," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Negm, L.M. & Youssef, M.A. & Skaggs, R.W. & Chescheir, G.M. & Jones, J., 2014. "DRAINMOD–DSSAT model for simulating hydrology, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, and crop growth for drained crop land," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 30-45.
    2. Fargue-Lelièvre, A. & Le Cœur, D. & Baudry, J., 2011. "Integrating farming techniques in an ecological matrix model: Implementation on the primrose (Primula vulgaris)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(4), pages 1002-1015.
    3. Chilundo, Mario & Joel, Abraham & Wesström, Ingrid & Brito, Rui & Messing, Ingmar, 2018. "Influence of irrigation and fertilisation management on the seasonal distribution of water and nitrogen in a semi-arid loamy sandy soil," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 120-137.
    4. Cittadini, E.D. & Lubbers, M.T.M.H. & de Ridder, N. & van Keulen, H. & Claassen, G.D.H., 2008. "Exploring options for farm-level strategic and tactical decision-making in fruit production systems of South Patagonia, Argentina," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 189-198, October.
    5. Pizarro, E. & Galleguillos, M. & Barría, P. & Callejas, R., 2022. "Irrigation management or climate change ? Which is more important to cope with water shortage in the production of table grape in a Mediterranean context," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    6. Feder, Frédéric, 2021. "Irrigation with treated wastewater in humid regions: Effects on Nitisols, sugarcane yield and quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    7. Andrade, A.I.A.S.S. & Stigter, T.Y., 2009. "Multi-method assessment of nitrate and pesticide contamination in shallow alluvial groundwater as a function of hydrogeological setting and land use," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(12), pages 1751-1765, December.
    8. Chopin, Pierre & Blazy, Jean-Marc & Guindé, Loïc & Wery, Jacques & Doré, Thierry, 2017. "A framework for designing multi-functional agricultural landscapes: Application to Guadeloupe Island," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 316-329.
    9. Pereira, L.S. & Paredes, P. & Hunsaker, D.J. & López-Urrea, R. & Mohammadi Shad, Z., 2021. "Standard single and basal crop coefficients for field crops. Updates and advances to the FAO56 crop water requirements method," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    10. Merchán, D. & Casalí, J. & Del Valle de Lersundi, J. & Campo-Bescós, M.A. & Giménez, R. & Preciado, B. & Lafarga, A., 2018. "Runoff, nutrients, sediment and salt yields in an irrigated watershed in southern Navarre (Spain)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 120-132.
    11. Norman Siebrecht, 2020. "Sustainable Agriculture and Its Implementation Gap—Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-27, May.
    12. Higgins, Andrew & Antony, George & Sandell, Gary & Davies, Ian & Prestwidge, Di & Andrew, Bill, 2004. "A framework for integrating a complex harvesting and transport system for sugar production," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 99-115, November.
    13. Salembier, Chloé & Segrestin, Blanche & Berthet, Elsa & Weil, Benoît & Meynard, Jean-Marc, 2018. "Genealogy of design reasoning in agronomy: Lessons for supporting the design of agricultural systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 277-290.
    14. Rimski-Korsakov, Helena & Rubio, Gerardo & Lavado, Raul S., 2004. "Potential nitrate losses under different agricultural practices in the pampas region, Argentina," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 83-94, March.
    15. Ramos, Tiago B. & Darouich, Hanaa & Šimůnek, Jiří & Gonçalves, Maria C. & Martins, José C., 2019. "Soil salinization in very high-density olive orchards grown in southern Portugal: Current risks and possible trends," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 265-281.
    16. Poch-Massegú, R. & Jiménez-Martínez, J. & Wallis, K.J. & Ramírez de Cartagena, F. & Candela, L., 2014. "Irrigation return flow and nitrate leaching under different crops and irrigation methods in Western Mediterranean weather conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1-13.
    17. Mohamed Gafsi & Geneviève Nguyen & Bruno Legagneux & Patrice Robin, 2006. "Sustainability and multifunctionality in French farms: Analysis of the implementation of Territorial Farming Contracts," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 23(4), pages 463-475, December.
    18. Jianqiang Deng & Xiaomin Chen & Zhenjie Du & Yong Zhang, 2011. "Soil Water Simulation and Predication Using Stochastic Models Based on LS-SVM for Red Soil Region of China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(11), pages 2823-2836, September.
    19. Wang, Zhen & Li, Jiusheng & Li, Yanfeng, 2014. "Simulation of nitrate leaching under varying drip system uniformities and precipitation patterns during the growing season of maize in the North China Plain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 19-28.
    20. Hu, Hong-you & Zhang, Linus & Wang, YuanPeng, 2016. "Crop development based assessment framework for guiding the conjunctive use of fresh water and sewage water for cropping practice—A case study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 98-105.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:152:y:2015:i:c:p:262-276. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.