ARS | Publication request: OBJECT-ORIENTED SIMULATION OF CARBON/NITROGEN CYCLING IN SOIL

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Traditional simulation of agricultural systems that are dominated by biological processes has been accomplished using a structured approach. The application of an object-oriented paradigm to carbon and nitrogen transformations in soils shows promise in making the code smaller, easier to integrate with other processes and models, and easier to maintain and update. The NLEAP carbon/nitrogen cycling model was redeveloped using an object oriented scenario that treats the nutrient pools in each soil layer as object classes and the individual process algorithms as special object class functions. The approach provides maximum flexibility in updating the base functions with time and linking with other soil process simulations. The us of instances of the object classes during program execution minimizes computer memory requirements.