Nutrient Delivery Ratio: load_type_x

[ceileigh]

The software indicates that load_type_x (load_type_p, in my case) must have a numerical input in the biophysical table, however, the user guide suggests that the options should be inputted as either ‘application-rate’ or ‘measured-runoff’. I was wondering if someone could direct me to the key for the numerical inputs that correspond with the different load_type_x options. Thank you!

[swolny]

Welcome to the forum @ceileigh!

I think you’re talking about two separate biophysical table fields.

These two inputs are numeric values of nutrient loading (the following description is from the User Guide Data Needs section):

• load_n (number, units: kg/(ha · year), conditionally required): The nitrogen loading for this land use class.
• load_p (number, units: kg/(ha · year), conditionally required): The phosphorus loading for this land use class.

These two inputs are not numeric, you assign a string value to them, either “application-rate” or “measured-runoff”:

• load_type_p (option, conditionally required): Whether the nutrient load in column load_p should be treated as nutrient application rate or measured contaminant runoff. ‘application-rate’ | ‘measured-runoff’
• load_type_n (option, conditionally required): Whether the nutrient load in column load_n should be treated as nutrient application rate or measured contaminant runoff. ‘application-rate’ | ‘measured-runoff’

So each land use class will have a “load_type_x” string value for the type of loading with associated “load_x” numeric value for the quantity of loading. If this is confusing, we should update the User Guide to be more clear.

We also recommend looking at the sample data that’s provided with each model, which will help illustrate what the inputs should look like.

~ Stacie