Summary
This field-based modelling study applied the SPACSYS simulation model to predict spatial variation in hydrological, biogeochemical, and productivity outcomes across a grazed pasture system. Whilst the spatially distributed version of the model produced encouraging soil moisture projections, the authors were unable to validate these predictions against observed field data, highlighting challenges in objective verification of spatially explicit farm-scale models.
UK applicability
The study was conducted on UK grassland and directly addresses challenges in modelling grazed pastures under British conditions. The results are relevant to UK farm management and policy on grassland productivity and greenhouse gas mitigation, though the inability to verify predictions limits immediate practical application without further validation work.
Key measures
Water run-off, soil moisture, N2O emissions, herbage biomass, spatial heterogeneity
Outcomes reported
The study used the SPACSYS model to simulate field-scale spatial variation in water run-off, soil moisture, nitrous oxide emissions, and herbage biomass across a grazed pasture. Soil moisture predictions from the spatially distributed model version showed promise but could not be objectively verified against independent field observations.
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