Ecosystem productivity is independent of some soil properties at equilibrium

Long runs of a mechanistic model of forest carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics (Edinburgh Forest Model) suggest that, when in a steady state, ecosystem productivity may be insensitive to the specific rate of N mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM). At equilibrium, productivity and other veget...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant and soil 2003-11, Vol.257 (1), p.193-204
Main Authors: Cannell, M.G.R, Thornley, J.H.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
air temperature
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
carbon
Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties
Ecological balance
Ecosystem models
Ecosystems
edinburgh forest model
environmental models
Forest ecosystems
Forest soils
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General forest ecology
Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology
mechanistic models
Mineralization
Minerals
nitrogen
Nitrogen fixation
Organic matter
Organic soils
Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils
Plant growth
Plants
simulation models
Soil air
Soil ecology
soil microorganisms
soil nutrient dynamics
Soil organic matter
Soil properties
Soil science
Soils
solar radiation
Synecology
Terrestrial ecosystems
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Summary:Long runs of a mechanistic model of forest carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics (Edinburgh Forest Model) suggest that, when in a steady state, ecosystem productivity may be insensitive to the specific rate of N mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM). At equilibrium, productivity and other vegetation properties are determined primarily by climate. This is so because, given time, modelled ecosystems tend to generate amounts of SOM that are able to supply N at rates which do not greatly limit plant growth. When specific N mineralization rates are low, large amounts of SOM accumulate, whereas when specific N mineralization rates are high, small amounts of SOM accumulate. However, it may take several millenia for equilibrium conditions to be reached following disturbance (particularly following degrading disturbance) and during that time N mineralization rates determine the speed of progress toward equilibrium.
ISSN:0032-079X
1573-5036
DOI:10.1023/A:1026207331599