Simulation of forest carbon dynamics based on a dry-matter production model

Abstract

A microcomputer model for forest carbon dynamics with five functional comparments (atmosphere, foliage, woody-parts, roots and dead biomass in the soil) is constructed which incorporates dry-matter production processes of trees such as photosynthesis, respiration and allocation of photosynthate. The effect of photosynthesis rate at saturated light and dark respiration rate of a single leaf upon surplus production (P _s) is three-dimensionally illustrated as a function of cumulative leaf area index (LAI) and extinction coefficient of light. Probable values of the physiological parameters in this model are determined by repeated simulation experiments. The successional pattern during a period of 100 years is simulated, demonstrating stable and perpetual occurrence of a tropical rainforest ecosystem composed of three strata. The model is also analyzed in terms of response of relative initial density of trees, thereby displaying the law of constant final yield in a forest ecosystem. The model outputs of carbon fluxes and phytomasses at the steady state agree quite well with field data already obtained from a tropical rainforest at Pasoh.