Table 2

Parameters used to simulate litter production and soil organic matter dynamics for biomes of Australia.


Partition Coefficient
Life span (yrs)
DPM/RPMa
Root dist.b


Biome
Leaf
Branch
Stem
Root
Leaf
Branch
Stem
Root



Tropical forest
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
1
10
50
10
0.3
0.33
Savanna
0.6
0.1
0.1
0.2
1
5
30
12
0.3
0.25
Temperate forest
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2
2
10
60
10
0.2
0.25
Grassland
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.4
1
-
-
1
0.4
0.35
Arable
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.2
1
-
-
1
0.59
0.33
Desert
0.55
0.05
0.05
0.35
1
10
40
1
0.33
0.22
Shrubland
0.5
0.1
0.1
0.3
1
10
50
2
0.4
0.31

aRatio of decomposable to resistant plant material.

bProportion of roots in top 10 cm of soil.

Grace et al. Carbon Balance and Management 2006 1:14   doi:10.1186/1750-0680-1-14