Articles | Volume 21, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3441-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3441-2024
Research article
 | 
30 Jul 2024
Research article |  | 30 Jul 2024

When and why microbial-explicit soil organic carbon models can be unstable

Erik Schwarz, Samia Ghersheen, Salim Belyazid, and Stefano Manzoni

Model code and software

Numerical stability analysis of an archetypal microbial-explicit soil organic carbon model E. Schwarz https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12749207

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Short summary
The occurrence of unstable equilibrium points (EPs) could impede the applicability of microbial-explicit soil organic carbon models. For archetypal model versions we identify when instability can occur and describe mathematical conditions to avoid such unstable EPs. We discuss implications for further model development, highlighting the important role of considering basic ecological principles to ensure biologically meaningful models.
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