1. General Model Information

Name: ROOTS

Acronym: ROOTS

Contact:

Author(s):

Abstract:

This model was constructed to simulate various above - and belowground compartements of the producer subsystem for a shortgrass prairie. The aboveground compartements were not considered as critical in this model as others since emphasis of the effort was to describe the belowground dynamics in considerable detail. Thus, the aboveground compartements included live shoots, recent and old dead shoots, litter and crowns. The belowground compartement is divided into six layers; each layer contains live and dead juvenile roots, non - suberized roots, and suberized roots. The processes linking the state variables are net photosynthesis, translocation, death of shoots, crowns and roots, litter production, root aging, respiration (crowns and roots), and decomposition. Model output compared favorably with observed data except it tended to overestimate crown and shoot production.

Aboveground processes simulated in the ROOTS model:

• Photosynthesis (soil water, temperature, solar radiation)
• Carbon allocation (variable allocation to soil water ratio,nutrient,leaf area)
• Death (soil water,temperature,phenology or leaf age).

• Carbon allocation (variable allocation to soil water ratio)
• Root growth (soil water,phenology)
• Death (soil water,temperature)
• Uptake (water)
• Respiration (soil water, temperature).

II. Technical Information

II.1 Executables:

II.2 Source-code:

II.3 Manuals:

II.4 Data:

III. Mathematical Information

III.1 Mathematics

III.2 Quantities

III.2.1 Input

III.2.2 Output

IV. References