A model to predict transformations and losses of nitrogen in UK pastures grazed by beef-cattle

TLDR: Outputs from the model indicate that fertilizer N has a strong influence on ammonia volatilization, denitrification and leaching at a given site but that, over a range of sites with a given rate of fertilizer N, total loss and the proportions lost by the three processes are greatly influenced by the amount of N mineralized by the soil.

Abstract: The model simulates the cycling of N in grassland systems grazed by beef cattle and predicts the annual amount of N in liveweight gain, and the amounts lost through ammonia volatilization, denitrification and leaching, on the basis of fertilizer application and soil and site characteristics. It aims to provide a better understanding of the way in which these various factors interact in their influence on N transformations. The model has been programmed to run on IBM-compatible personal computers and responds rapidly to changes in input parameters.