Generalized model for NOx and N2O emissions from soils

We describe a submodel to simulate NOx and N2O emissions from soils and pre sent comparisons of simulated NOx and N2O fluxes from the DAYCENT ecosystem model with observations from different soils. The N gas flux submodel assu mes that nitrification and denitrification both contribute to N2O and NOx e missions but that NOx emissions are due mainly to nitrification. N2O emissi ons from nitrification are calculated as a function of modeled soil NH4+ co ncentration, water-filled pore space (WFPS), temperature, pH, and texture. N2O emissions from denitrification are a function of soil NO3- concentratio n, WFPS, heterotrophic respiration, and texture. NOx emissions are calculat ed by multiplying total N2O emissions by a NOx:N2O equation which is calcul ated as a function of soil parameters (bulk density, field capacity, and WF PS) that influence gas diffusivity. The NOx submodel also simulates NOx emi ssion pulses initiated by rain events onto dry soils. The DAYCENT model was tested by comparing observed and simulated parameters in grassland soils a cross a range of soil textures and fertility levels. Simulated values of so il temperature, WFPS (during the non-winter months), and NOx gas flux agree d reasonably well with measured values (r(2) = 0.79, 0.64, and 0.43, respec tively). Winter season WFPS was poorly simulated (r(2) = 0.27). Although th e correlation between simulated and observed N2O flux was poor on a daily b asis (r(2)=0.02), DAYCENT was able to reproduce soil textural and treatment differences and the observed seasonal patterns of gas flux emissions with r(2) values of 0.26 and 0.27, for monthly and NOx flux rates, respectively.