1. General Model Information

Name: Soil Depletion Estimates Model

Acronym: SOIL_DEPL

Main medium: terrestrial
Main subject: biogeochemistry
Organization level: ecosystem
Type of model: compartment model
Main application:
Keywords: soil, erosion, crop yield, resource management system

Contact:

Leonard Bull
Economic Research Service
1301 New York Avenue NW Room 424
Washington, DC20005-4788
Phone: 202-501-8288
Fax : 202-219-0477
email:

Author(s):

Leonard Bull

Abstract:

The Soil Depletion Estimates Model is a numerical model that examines the long-term physical and economic impacts of soil depletion resulting from alternative management practices. The model estimates the amount of soil lost due to erosion and calculates the loss of crop yields and net returns from soil loss. Erosion is estimated from the SCS Soils 5 Interpretation Record although these values can be refined by the user.

Soil erosion rates are calculated for each resource management system (RMS). A resource management system is defined by the tillage method, crop rotation and conservation practices. The model requires as input soil family texture classes, soil physical properties, crop market price, tillage type, cost of production, slope, initial yield for each crop and rotation acreage for each crop. The model is run over relatively long periods; 50 - 100 years at the farm/field level. Output includes information on productivity by soil horizon, yield for each crop, erosion and predicted net return.

Author of the abstract:

CIESIN (CONSORTIUM FOR INTERNATIONAL EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION NETWORK):

II. Technical Information

II.1 Executables:

Operating System(s): IBM PC or compatible

II.2 Source-code:

Programming Language(s): FORTRAN 77

II.3 Manuals:

Soil Depletion Estimates: Version 2: A Users Guide to a PersonalComputer Model for Estimating Long-term On-site Physical and Economic Impacts of SoilDepletion (AGES 9005).

II.4 Data:

III. Mathematical Information

III.1 Mathematics

III.2 Quantities

III.2.1 Input

Soil family texture classes, crop market price and output unit;soil physical properties; resource management data including discount rate, tillage code, cost ofproduction, soil slope, tillage type, conservation practice, and soil T value; initial yield data for eachcrop, rotation acres for each crop, and erosion rate information.

Model Input Data Source: SCS, Soils 5 Interpretation Record, user Productivity index by by soil horizon, yield for each crop, erosion, predicted

III.2.2 Output

Productivity index by by soil horizon, yield for each crop, erosion, predictednet return.

Temporal Scale: 50 - 100 year planning horizons

Spatial Scale: Farm/field

IV. References