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Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manzoni, S; Porporato, A; D'Odorico, P; Laio, F; Rodriguez-Iturbe, I
Published in: Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics
January 1, 2004

An analytical model for the soil carbon and nitrogen cycles is studied from the dynamical system point of view. Its main nonlinearities and feedbacks are analyzed by considering the steady state solution under deterministic hydro-climatic conditions. It is shown that, changing hydroclimatic conditions, the system undergoes dynamical bifurcations, shifting from a stable focus to a stable node and back to a stable focus when going from dry, to well-watered, and then to saturated conditions, respectively. An alternative degenerate solution is also found in cases when the system can not sustain decomposition under steady external conditions. Different basins of attraction for "normal" and "degenerate" solutions are investigated as a function of the system initial conditions. Although preliminary and limited to the specific form of the model, the present analysis points out the importance of nonlinear dynamics in the soil nutrient cycles and their possible complex response to hydro-climatic forcing. © European Geosciences Union 2004.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

DOI

ISSN

1023-5809

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

11

Issue

5-6

Start / End Page

589 / 598

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 3706 Geophysics
  • 04 Earth Sciences
 

Citation

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Manzoni, S., Porporato, A., D’Odorico, P., Laio, F., & Rodriguez-Iturbe, I. (2004). Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system. Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics, 11(5–6), 589–598. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-11-589-2004
Manzoni, S., A. Porporato, P. D’Odorico, F. Laio, and I. Rodriguez-Iturbe. “Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system.” Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics 11, no. 5–6 (January 1, 2004): 589–98. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-11-589-2004.
Manzoni S, Porporato A, D’Odorico P, Laio F, Rodriguez-Iturbe I. Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system. Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics. 2004 Jan 1;11(5–6):589–98.
Manzoni, S., et al. “Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system.” Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics, vol. 11, no. 5–6, Jan. 2004, pp. 589–98. Scopus, doi:10.5194/npg-11-589-2004.
Manzoni S, Porporato A, D’Odorico P, Laio F, Rodriguez-Iturbe I. Soil nutrient cycles as a nonlinear dynamical system. Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics. 2004 Jan 1;11(5–6):589–598.

Published In

Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics

DOI

ISSN

1023-5809

Publication Date

January 1, 2004

Volume

11

Issue

5-6

Start / End Page

589 / 598

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
  • 3706 Geophysics
  • 04 Earth Sciences