Summary
This study applied the SPACSYS model to simulate spatial heterogeneity in hydrological, biogeochemical and agronomic processes across a grazed pasture system. Whilst the spatially distributed modelling approach yielded promising results for soil moisture prediction, the authors note that verification of these outputs was limited by available observational data.
UK applicability
The research is directly applicable to UK grazing systems, as it addresses modelling of field-scale variation in moisture, greenhouse gas emissions and herbage production in temperate pastures. The findings may inform development of spatially explicit management tools for UK livestock farms, though the verification limitations noted suggest further validation would be needed before operational deployment.
Key measures
Water run-off, soil moisture, N2O emissions, herbage biomass, spatial variation across pasture
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.
Topic tags
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