Vegetation Types simulated: grasses, conifers, & hardwoods

Forest growth algorithms derived from existing models such as: TREGRO & FOREST-BGC

Herbaceous growth algorithms from: SUCROSE

Vegetation dynamics simulated by considering five major vegetation pools: leaf, branches, stems, coarse roots, and fine roots.

Processes simulated:

• Photosynthesis: influence of radiation, atmospheric and soil moisture, nitrogen concentration, leaf water potential, physiological factors accounted for.
• Respiration (maintenance & growth): simulated for each tree organs, function of - organ mass, nitrogen content, temperature, and phenology.
• Carbon allocation between organs and organ growth and mortality - considers nutrient and carbon interactions, phenology, and temperature.
• Leaf drop in fall and regrowth in spring. Litterfall occurs from - leaves, branches, stems, fine and coarse roots.
• Nutrient translocation from leaves to other plant organs.
• Maintainance of photsynthate reserves.
• Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and nutrient availability influences on vegetation growth.
• Nitrogen and phosphorus return to the soil via aboveground and belowground litterfall.