RothC-26.3 - A Model for the turnover of carbon in soil

Abstract

Rothc-26.3 is a model of the turnover of organic carbon in non-waterlogged soils that allows for the effects of soil type, temperature, moisture content and plant cover on the turnover process. It uses a monthly time step to calculate total organic carbon (t C ha-1), microbial biomass carbon (t C ha-1) and Δ14C (from which the radiocarbon age of the soil can be calculated) on a years-to-centuries timescale (Jenkinson, 1990; Jenkinson and Coleman, 1994; Jenkinson et al., 1987; Jenkinson et al., 1991; Jenkinson et al., 1992). It needs few inputs and those it needs are easily obtainable. It is an extension of the earlier model described by Jenkinson and Rayner (1977), and by Hart (1984). Needless to say, it has many ideas in common with other contemporary turnover models, notably CENTURY (Parton et al., 1988) and Van Veen and Paul’s model (Van Veen and Paul, 1981).