Incorporating microorganisms as decomposers into models to simulate soil organic matter decomposition

C Fang, P Smith, J U Smith, J B Moncrieff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Current models simulating soil organic matter (SOM) are based on the assumption of first order decomposition. The microbial component of soil organic C (SOC) is mainly simulated as a substrate. The contribution of soil microbe to decomposition as a decomposing agent is implicitly included in the rate constant k and does not change throughout the simulation. The temporal and spatial variation in SOM decomposition/dynamics may have been biased by models, and our prediction of SOM response to global change may have been overestimated, due to missing the feedback effect of microbes on SOM decomposition. We suggest a general model, which explicitly incorporates soil microbe as decomposers of SOM. Future studies in both experiment and modelling are necessary for us to understand interactions between soil microbial abundance and activity, the quality and quantity of SOM pool, and the effects of environmental conditions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-146
Number of pages8
JournalGeoderma
Volume129
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • organic matter decomposition
  • soil C modelling
  • microbial C
  • decomposer
  • MICROBIAL BIOMASS-C
  • CARBON MINERALIZATION
  • TEMPORAL VARIABILITY
  • NITROGEN DEPOSITION
  • FOREST SOIL
  • RESPIRATION
  • TEMPERATURE
  • GRASSLAND
  • TURNOVER
  • GROWTH

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Incorporating microorganisms as decomposers into models to simulate soil organic matter decomposition'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this