Simulation of the water and nitrogen balances of forests within a catchment in the northeastern German lowlands

• Published in: European journal of forest research Vol. 123; no. 1; pp. 53 - 61
• Main Authors: Wegehenkel, Martin, Jochheim, Hubert, L ttschwager, Dietmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.04.2004
• Subjects: Catchment areas; Deciduous forests; Forest ecosystems; Forests; Interception; Interception loss; Leaching; Moisture content; Nitrogen; Precipitation rate; Simulation; Soil water; Transpiration; Water; Germany
• ISSN: 1612-4669; 1612-4677
• DOI: 10.1007/s10342-004-0015-9

The simulation model FOREST-BGC was used to calculate the regional water and nitrogen balances of coniferous and deciduous forests within the Stöbber catchment area over a period of 4 years. This catchment area is located in the northeastern German lowlands. The forest inventory database of the Landesforstanstalt Eberswalde served as a basis for the estimation of initial values of the forest stands and the soil conditions. The mean annual precipitation rate of the calculation period was 560 mm a^sup -1^, the overall mean annual rate of the calculated interception loss was 178 mm a^sup -1^. Furthermore, a mean annual transpiration rate of 329 mm a^sup -1^ and a mean annual soil water discharge of 77 mm a^sup -1^ were calculated by the model. The simulation of nitrogen leaching resulted in a mean annual rate of 7 kg N ha^sup -1^ a^sup -1^. Some simulation results are compared with measurements, and the database used for the estimation of the model initial values as well as for the model calibration is discussed. Additionally, an evaluation of the model performance was carried out for the purposes of our study. Due to the results of this evaluation, the model algorithms of the nitrogen turnover processes, especially in the soil, seem to be too simple and inappropriate for a realistic calculation of the nitrogen budget of forest ecosystems.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]