Oxford Soil-Plant-Microbe Models
Simulation models are becoming increasingly important in the study of complex soil processes and soil-plant-microbial interactions. Published descriptions of models and their output are often difficult to understand and are no substitute for direct access to the model. The purpose of this site is to provide a downloading facility for simulation models published by the Oxford Soils Laboratory and to provide links to other relevant sites.
Some links are dedicated to particular collaborators or groups and these require a password for access.
For those wishing to write their own simulation models, a simple-to-use model-definition package is available. Although designed primarily for soil-plant problems, the package is also suitable for many other problems involving ordinary/partial differential equation systems.
Downloads
To avoid having to transfer very large files for each model, an installation package which is common to all models is provided. Any model sharing the same version number can then be downloaded and installed. This installation package MUST be downloaded and run before any of the simulation models will work. The Help file for the models also needs to be downloaded separately: this also gives additional details about installing the software (last updated 19.12.96).
General
Barber.zip 7/1/97 This is an implementation of the classic Claassen-Barber model of mineral nutrient uptake from soil by a growing root system. It is a direct but more accessible and sophisticated implementation of the model described in the 1984 book by Barber and of the computer program described by Oates and Barber in 1987.
Rhizodp.zip 12/1/97 The loss of carbon from roots via soluble exudation involves both a passive efflux of C compounds and an active influx of specific C compounds. The re-acquisition of exuded compounds depends on their concentration at the root surface which in turn depends on their rate of diffusion away from the root and their rate of decomposition by soil micro-organisms. This model simulates these processes in sterile and non-sterile soil conditions allowing theeffect of changing physical and biological conditions on net C flow into soil to be explored.
Ref: Darrah P R 1997 Rhizodeposition under ambient and elevated CO2 levels. Plant and Soil 187 (In Press)
Org_acid.zip 22/12/96 This model simulates the movement of organic acids released from a plant root into the surrounding soil. Exudation varies along the root and so efflux varies with time. The model simulates the accumulation of organic acids in the rhizosphere over a 24h period in sterile soil.
Ref: Jones D L, Darrah P,R and Kochian L V 1996 Critical evaluation of organic acid mediated iron dissolution in the rhizosphere and its potential role in root iron uptake. Plant and Soil 180, p57-66.
Collaborative
Cornell
Oxford
Local interest only
Department
Coments and Feedback should be sent to Peter.Darrah@Plant-Sciences.Oxford.ac.uk