Modelling soil carbon stocks following reduced tillage intensity: A framework to estimate decomposition rate constant modifiers for RothC-26.3, demonstrated in north-west Europe

Simulating cropland soil carbon changes following a reduction in tillage intensity is necessary to determine the utility of this management practice climate change mitigation. In instances where reduced or no increases stocks, typically due decomposition rates plant residues. Although some models contain priori rate modifiers account for regime, these are not calibrated specific climatic regions, and none currently available Rothamsted Carbon Model (RothC). Here, we present modelling framework estimate modifier (TRM) constants RothC-26.3 which decay between pools. We demonstrate north-west Europe, using published data assembled through recent systematic review with propagation error from input parameters throughout framework. The small magnitude region reflected our TRM estimates no-till 0.95, 95% Credible Intervals [0.91, 1.00], 0.93 [0.90, 0.97], relative conventional high-intensity default 1. These TRMs facilitate realistic simulation dynamics RothC, simple, transparent, repeatable suitable application other regions generalisable context interest.