NDICEA model

B-Mex maintains and develops the NDICEA model, together with the Louis Bolk Institute and Van der Burgt Agrarische Diensten. NDICEA is a nitrogen and carbon planner that helps growers fertilise precisely and to their specific needs, both in the short and the long term.

The model calculates nitrogen and carbon fluxes from a plot over several years. Based on soil properties (such as texture, organic matter content, groundwater level, and pH), crop rotation, green manure, and fertilization, as well as local weather data, NDICEA simulates mineralization, nitrogen availability, crop uptake, and losses due to leaching and denitrification. The results are presented in clear graphs, in one-day increments.

For example, NDICEA provides insight into nitrogen deficiencies and surpluses, specifies exactly how much nitrogen a crop needs and when, and helps improve the organic matter balance and limit losses to groundwater. Growers can compare scenarios and flexibly adjust their crop rotation plans.

B-Mex is involved in various projects in which the NDICEA model is being implemented or further developed, with ongoing improvements to the model’s computational core, user-friendliness, and reliability. The model is available online at www.ndiceaweb.eu.