additional information of model nitrogen dynamics in arable soil (MINERVA*)
sponsoring institution:
Bundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (BMBF), Referat 522
P. O. Box 200240
53170 Bonn
Germany
phone: +49-228-59-0 (switchboard)
fax : +49-228-593601
email: information@bmbf.bund400.de
administrative number:0339121
period of development:
from 01.05.1988 to 01.06.1995
aim of model:
prognosis
research,
education,
environmental conditions
geographical location
scales
spatial scales: MINERVA simulates processes for a single soil profile (e.g. for a plot). Using its interface to GIS Arc/Info it can be used to for regions up to some square kilometers. In the latter case simulation is carried out for each representative unit resulting from intersection of maps with soil type, crop types, management etc..
temporal scale:
stepsize from: 1.000 to: 1.000, unit: days
state of development:
The general model is fully validated. It describes water flow, nitrogen turnover and growth under/of winter wheat for sites in Lower Saxony. The later included, more specialized submodels for denitrification, immobilization of N are fully calibrated for some data sets. Recently developped parameter sets for a more complete collection of corps and catch crops are mostly calibrated, but still in the phase of validation (for about 2 years). Nevertheless these parameter sets for corn (zea mays), barley (hordeum), and rye (secale) can already be used for practical purposes.
further remarks concerning the state of development:
Work in progress: plant growth parameters to complete the set of crops (e.g. potatoes, catch crops) for Middle Europe. In early 1996 first test will be driven for wheat and rice in South China. Carbon pools and turnover should explicitly be included til summer 1996.
application recommendations
limitations of use:
be careful if slope angle exceeds 2%.
current users:
number of users worldwide: 30
number of users nationwide: 35
uses aimed at: model development, research, engineering, administration, planning
use of the model:
support required: not at all
support available: full extent including individual data handling
interactive use posible: yes - running the program and output of results can be controlled via screen interface (DOS and UNIX). A version for Microsoft Windows operating system is planned for early 1996.