Trace element fluxes in relation to decomposition

Decomposition of litter results in one flux of trace elements to humus and a second to the dissolved trace element pool, i.e. some form of mineralisation. Both fluxes are a function of the total turnover (i.e. decomposed material). The turnover of litter, S_TEDecompL, is calculated as:

                                                       (2.68)

where k_l is a decomposition rate parameter (see section Soil Organic Processes), f(T) and f(θ) are the common response functions for temperature and soil moisture (see section Common abiotic functions), and S_TELitter is the amount of tracers in litter.

The flux of trace elements from litter to humus, S_{TELitter→Humus}, is subsequently calculated as:

                                                                      (2.69)

where f_h,l is the fraction of the total turnover that is allocated to humus (Soil Organic Processes). The remaining decomposed material is the fraction that is mineralised:

                                                                (2.70)

The decomposition of humus also results in a mineralisation of trace elements, S_{TEHumus→Min}, calculated by eq (2.68) by substituting k_l with k_h, and S_TELitter with S_TEHumus.