Modelling Soil-Biosphere Interactions

by Muller, Christoph

• ISBN13: 9780851993539
• ISBN10: 0851993532
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-05-25
• Publisher: Cab Intl

Summary

This book aims to revisit concepts and processes in soils and their interaction with the biosphere in an easy-to-understand way using mathematical models created on ModelMaker. Even the most complex problems in the relationship between soil and the biosphere can be broken down and solved using this modelling package, making this an ideal book for students in soil, plant and environmental sciences.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
How to Use the Book	xi
Introduction	1	(50)
Processes in the Biosphere	1	(1)
Some Mathematical Essentials	2	(21)
Mathematics - the universal language	2	(1)
Translation into the language of mathematics	3	(3)
Some mathematical tools	6	(15)
Numerical and analytical solutions	21	(2)
The Transport Equation and the Finite Difference Notation	23	(4)
Mathematical Description of Kinetics	27	(10)
Zero-order kinetics	27	(1)
First-order kinetics	28	(2)
Second-order kinetics	30	(1)
Temperature dependency of the rate constant	31	(1)
Chain reactions	32	(1)
Michaelis-Menten kinetics	33	(3)
Units	36	(1)
Introduction to ModelMaker	37	(2)
The First Model	39	(12)
Nitrogen Transformations in Soil	51	(105)
Introduction	51	(2)
Modelling Kinetics	53	(5)
Zero-, first- and second-order kinetics	53	(2)
Temperature dependency of the rate constant	55	(1)
Chain reactions	56	(1)
Michaelis-Menten kinetics	57	(1)
Nitrification	58	(28)
Conceptual nitrification model	58	(2)
Basic nitrification model	60	(9)
Nitrification and gaseous N production	69	(10)
Influence of soil moisture and soil temperature on nitrification	79	(6)
Further additions to the nitrification model	85	(1)
Denitrification	86	(18)
Conceptual denitrification model	86	(1)
Basic denitrification model	87	(6)
Denitrification enzyme dynamics	93	(3)
Denitrification and gaseous N emission	96	(4)
Influence of soil moisture and soil temperature	100	(4)
C/N Transformations in Soil Organic Matter	104	(52)
Conceptual model	104	(3)
C transformation concept	107	(3)
N transformation concept	110	(6)
Basic C/N transformation model	116	(13)
Substrate-specific microbial growth and decay rates	129	(5)
Protection capacity of microbial biomass	134	(2)
Physiological state of microorganisms	136	(15)
Influence of soil moisture and soil temperature	151	(4)
Future development	155	(1)
Soil Temperature	156	(23)
Introduction	156	(1)
Soil Temperature Dynamics in Space and Time	156	(3)
Volumetric Heat Capacity and Thermal Conductivity	159	(6)
Heat Flow Model with Constant Thermal Properties	165	(7)
Heat Flow Model with Dynamically Changing Thermal Properties	172	(7)
Soil Water	179	(24)
Introduction	179	(1)
Potential Concept	180	(3)
Soil Moisture Characteristic	183	(1)
Hydraulic Conductivity	184	(4)
Basic Water Flow Model	188	(6)
Effect of Other Boundary Conditions	194	(4)
Infiltrability	198	(4)
Future Development	202	(1)
Soil Energy Balance	203	(45)
Introduction	203	(1)
Combined Soil Temperature-Moisture Model	204	(1)
Radiation Balance of Bare Soil	205	(6)
Calculation of the Various Terms of the Radiation Balance	211	(2)
Exchange Between Soil and Atmosphere	213	(6)
Calculation of the Various Terms of the Energy Balance	219	(4)
Calculation Procedure for Soil Surface Temperature and Evaporation	223	(6)
Contribution of Water Vapour Movement to Soil Thermal Conductivity	229	(9)
Contribution of Water Vapour Movement to Soil Water Flow	238	(3)
Non-isothermal Water and Water Vapour Flow in Soil	241	(6)
Future Development	247	(1)
Plant Growth	248	(67)
Introduction	248	(1)
Conceptual Plant Growth Model	249	(1)
Photosynthesis	250	(16)
Simple model	251	(6)
Advanced model	257	(9)
Plant Growth-Substrate Relationships	266	(26)
Introduction	266	(1)
Growth above ground	266	(9)
Root growth and partitioning	275	(17)
Plant Growth - Relationships with Environmental Factors	292	(19)
Introduction	292	(1)
Temperature	292	(2)
Plant water status	294	(17)
Future Development	311	(4)
Leaching	315	(17)
Introduction	315	(1)
Mathematical Notation of Transport Processes	316	(4)
Convection	316	(1)
Diffusion	317	(1)
Hydrodynamic dispersion	318	(1)
Combined notation for solute transport	318	(2)
Leaching Model with Constant Soil Parameters	320	(4)
Leaching Model with Dynamic Soil Parameters	324	(7)
Future Development	331	(1)
Final Comments	332	(2)
Appendix	334	(4)
References	338	(5)
Index	343