Sustainable grassland systems: a modelling perspective based on the N orth W yke F arm P latform

The N orth W yke F arm P latform ( NWFP ) provides data from the field‐ to the farm‐scale, enabling the research community to address key issues in sustainable agriculture better and to test models that are capable of simulating soil, plant and animal processes involved in the systems. The tested models can then be used to simulate how agro‐ecosystems will respond to changes in the environment and management. In this study, we used baseline datasets generated from the NWFP to validate the S oil‐ P lant‐ A tmosphere C ontinuum S ystem ( SPACSYS ) model in relation to the dynamics of soil water content, water loss from runoff and forage biomass removal. The validated model, together with future climate scenarios for the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s (from the I nternational P anel on C limate C hange ( IPCC ) S pecial R eport on E missions Scenarios ( SRES ): medium ( A1B ) and large ( A1F1 ) emission scenarios), were used to simulate the long‐term responses of the system with three contrasting treatments on the NWFP . Simulation results demonstrated that the SPACSYS model could estimate reliably the dynamics of soil water content, water loss from runoff and drainage, and cut biomass for a permanent sward. The treatments responded in different ways under the climate change scenarios. More carbon ( C ) is fixed and respired by the swards treated with an increased use of legumes, whereas less C was lost through soil respiration with the planned reseeding. The deep‐rooting grass in the reseeding treatment reduced N losses through leaching, runoff and gaseous emissions, and water loss from runoff compared with the other two treatments.