Application of simulation models to predict compost effect on growth substrate properties - Presentation of a preliminary project

Simulation models are powerful tools to create understandable packages of several time-dependent functions acting together. The model presented in this paper describes the effect of compost oxygen uptake rate on the oxygen depletion time in a container media. Different soil temperatures, compost application and oxygen uptake rates, soil and air volumes may be used for simulation. According to this model container volume should be taken into consideration when interpreting bioassay results, because container depth affects the proportion of substrate volume where oxygen deficiency may occur. Oxygen influx mechanisms other than diffusion will further be added to the model.