Modeling Denitrification: Can We Report What We Don't Know?

Abstract

Biogeochemical models simulate soil nitrogen (N) turnover and are often used to assess N losses through denitrification. Though models simulate a complete N budget, often only a subset of N pools/fluxes (i.e., N₂O, ${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$, NH₃, NO_x) are published since the full budget cannot be validated with measured data. Field studies rarely include full N balances, especially N₂ fluxes, which are difficult to quantify. Limiting publication of modeling results based on available field data represents a missed opportunity to improve the understanding of modeled processes. We propose that the modeler community support publication of all simulated N pools and processes in future studies.