REWTCrunch: A Modeling Framework for Vegetation Induced Reactive Zone Processes in the Critical Zone

Abstract

Process-based numerical modeling of shallow subsurface hydrobiogeochemistry, including root-microbe-soil interactions, has been a long-standing challenge (Vereecken et al., 2016). A model capable of describing ecohydrologic, vegetation, and geochemical dynamics is necessary to numerically resolve the link between vegetation processes, such as root exudation, reactive weathering products, and associated solute efflux from terrestrial environments (Sullivan et al., 2019). Such a framework could allow us to ask new questions about the effect of vegetation processes on long-term soil formation (Vereecken et al., 2016) and the role of land use changes on weathering of soil minerals (Barré et al., 2009;Céspedes-Payret et al., 2012). It could also allow us to examine the role of soil priming by roots to influence mineral-associated organic matter turnover (Jilling et al., 2018;Kleber et al., 2015) and the long-term resilience of soil organic matter and soil carbon stocks under future climate