Comparison of pedotransfer functions to predict nitrogen‐mineralization parameters of one‐ and two‐pool models

Abstract

Information on nitrogen (N)‐mineralization is required to model efficient N nutrition managment options for crop production and to reduce the risk of N contamination of water bodies. Experimental determination of N‐mineralization for different soils is laboreous and expensive. The objectives of this study were to develop, using the pedotransfer function, PTF, approach, and compare predictive equations for N‐minerlization parameters of the one‐ and two‐pool models. Published information from five sources was used in this excercise. Four data sets contained information on N‐mineralization parameters of the one‐pool model and the information for the two‐pool model was available in only one data set. The R² of the PTF developed for the potentially mineralisable‐N parameter of the one‐pool model ranged from 0.58 to 0.89 and that for the rate constant from 0 to 0.29. The R² of PTF's developed for the two potentially mineralizable‐N parameters of the two‐pool model ranged from 0.68 to 0.94 and that for the rate constants from 0.67 to 0.72. The results show that more accurate predictions, using the PTF, of the N‐mineralization parameters can be obtained for the two‐pool model than the one‐pool model.

Notes

Corresponding address: Research Centre, Box 1030, Swift Current, SK, S9H 3X2, Canada.