Recipient Organization
Applied GeoSolutions, LLC
87 Packers Falls Road
Durham,NH 03824
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Farmers, crop consultants, and regulators are constantly faced with management/policy decisions that require the integration of current crop and soil conditions, and current and future weather conditions. Farmers and crop consultants must make these management decisions within a regulatory environment that is becoming more restrictive and complex. Regulators are forced to make policy recommendations without sufficient understanding of the environmental processes they are attempting to regulate. In short, evaluating alternative management strategies that account for the broad variability in agro-ecosystems can be difficult given the complex processes impacting soils and crops within climatic conditions and farming practices. Dynamic, process modeling can be an effective tool for assisting farmers in effective management strategies to enhance profitability while protecting the environment. This project will evaluate developing a tool to provide crop consultants, farm
managers, natural resource mangers and policy makers with the technical resources needed for the evaluation of best management practices and site-specific applications. This tool will utilize geographic information system (GIS) capabilities to capture spatial and temporal variability in agricultural, environmental, and climatic conditions, and will be implemented within a user interface on the internet.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The objectives for this research is to develop a set of geospatial modeling tools for quantifying nutrient fluxes to air and water, changes in C stocks, alternatives for C sequestration through best management practices, and for performing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories. Our goal is to implement the NUGGET toolset in a simple user interface on the internet with the intention of making it readily available to farmers, crop consultants, and land managers. This tool will utilize GIS capabilities to capture spatial and temporal variability in agricultural, environmental, and climatic conditions, yet only a simple web browser will be required by users to take advantage of the product. A pilot study will be performed in San Joaquin County, California to test the feasibility of such a product. Some important scientific and technical questions that we seek to address in our Phase I research study include: 1. Can we demonstrate that sufficient GIS data are available
to provide regional applications of NUGGET? What is the best database structure to efficiently meet our modeling needs? 2. Which model parameters are most influential on GHG and NH3 emissions in this region? 3. Can NUGGET be configured to provide reasonable estimates of GHG and NH3 emissions and changes in C stocks in the highly variable cropping and dairy systems of San Joaquin County? 4. Can an effective spatial database structure that provides sufficient detail be established that will allow NUGGET to be interfaced with a GIS and made accessible online? 5. What are the technical and informational needs of potential users of NUGGET?
Project Methods
Our research will be conducted in a series of steps designed to meet our objective. Steps will include GIS data collection, model validation, technical evaluation of building an on-line GIS interface, sensitivity analyses, and developing a user protocol. Step 1: GIS data collection. We will collect data on crops planted and farmer's management practices (e.g. tillage, fertilization, manure amendment, and irrigation). A database on crop calendars, tillage and irrigation practices for San Joaquin County will be derived based on discussions with UCCE, CDFA, CFBF, and CARB. Climate data will be obtained from CIMIS, NCDC, or DAYMET. Spatially explicit soils data will be obtained from both the NRCS STATSGO and SSURGO databases. Land use data will be obtained from the Department of Water Resources. Step2 Validation of model estimates: A major objective of Phase 1 is model validation using existing field data and to build a mechanism for independent validation as new field data
are collected. Validation data available through project collaborators include nutrient mass balance survey data from 50 dairies the San Joaquin Valley and ammonia and methane emissions data for several central valley dairies. In addition to these data, we will collect data on GHG and NH3 emissions from California agricultural soils from literature. We will also seek to work with the air module of the CDQAP to develop a protocol and system for independent validation. Step 3 Building an on-line GIS interface: We will evaluate using ArcSDE for our GIS data server. ArcSDE uses a DBMS where spatial data can be managed and easily published on-line and accessed by many users. We will evaluate developing an interface where users can delineate their management areas on a DOQ image stored in the ArcSDE database. Step 4 Sensitivity analyses: Tools for quantifying how biophysical factors (e.g. soil texture), environmental conditions and management alternatives (e.g. fertilizer) impact the
production of trace gases, changes in terrestrial C stocks and availability of nitrate for leaching. The role of the sensitivity analysis tool is to provide users with a better understanding of the sensitivity of management alternatives and input parameters on simulated processes and to provide a means for assessing uncertainty in emission estimates based on reliability of input data. Two approaches (Most Sensitive Factor and Monte Carlo) will be evaluated for analyzing impact of uncertainties in biophysical factors, environmental conditions and management alternatives on GHG emissions and changes in terrestrial C stocks. The sensitivity tool will enable the users to quantify which input parameters are critical for their application and precision required for data collection. Step 5: Developing a User Protocol: We will host a workshop with a range of potential users to provide an overview of NUGGET, as well as get their input regarding how the system can best meet their needs. Through
the workshop, we will demonstrate input protocols and capabilities of the model to potential users, collect their comments and questions, and define their demands and concerns of this tool.