This study quantifies the ecological impact of converting forests to farmland by focusing on nitrogen cycling, a key indicator of ecosystem health. We developed three dynamic models using modified Lotka-Volterra equations: a
Forest Ecosystem Nitrogen Cycle Model (FENCM), an
Agricultural Ecosystem Nitrogen Cycle Model (AENCM) incorporating human interventions, and a more complex
Agricultural Ecosystem-Food Web-Nitrogen Cycle Model (AE-FW-NCM). Our comparative analysis of these models highlights the trade-offs between agricultural yield, biodiversity, and sustainability, and concludes with practical recommendations for farmers. The TeX source and numerical simulation code are
open-sourced on GitHub.