# US 2023/0056985 A1 · Microbial efficiency-matrix stabilization (mems) ecosystem model and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0056985 A1 - Document ID: US20230056985A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/405,289 - Filed: 2021-08-18 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18 - Assignees: Colorado State University Research Foundation - Applicants: Colorado State University Research Foundation - Inventors: M. Francesca Cotrufo; Yao Zhang; Andrew Robertson; Jocelyn Lavallee; Keith H. Paustian; Stephen Ogle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056985A1 ## CPC - G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30) - G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining - G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) - G06F 2111/10: Numerical modelling - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A microbial efficiency-matrix stabilization (MEMS) 2.0 ecosystem model, with detailed pools and fluxes for the litter and soil components, represents carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) fluxes among atmosphere, plants, and soil, in multiple soil layers down to a user-defined depth. Inputs and recycling of N cause feedbacks to net primary productivity (NPP), which is allocated aboveground (ANPP) or belowground (BNPP) and at different depths, depending on vegetation and soil traits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a plurality of inputs; and a microbial efficiency-matrix stabilization (MEMS) 2.0 ecosystem model configured to receive the plurality of inputs and generate information around the pools and fluxes of C and N in the soil, plant and the atmosphere; and a plurality of outputs comprising the generated information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inputs comprise input files, parameter data, an operation schedule, net primary productivity (NPP) data, and weather data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the input files comprise a control file, a site file, and a weather file. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the parameter data comprises base parameters, plant parameters, and site parameters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ecosystem model is configured to create a one-dimension soil profile and divide the one-dimension soil profile into continuous soil horizons in a model input file, with user-defined depths for each horizon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the ecosystem model is configured to, while executing a model simulation, divide the soil horizons into thinner layers to solve partial differential equations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the ecosystem model is configured to run simulations in accordance with submodels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the submodels comprise algorithms respectively directed to an atmosphere submodel, a plant submodel, a soil surface submodel, and a soil submodel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the atmosphere submodel comprises weather, evapotranspiration (ET) demand, and N deposition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the plant submodel comprises aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and exudate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the soil surface submodel comprises litter and surface temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the soil submodel comprises soil layer, soil water, soil temperature, soil minerals, nitrate, ammonium, and soil organic matter (SOM) pools. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the outputs are produced on a daily time step or a sub-daily time step. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage device to store the outputs in output files. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: receiving a plurality of inputs at a microbial efficiency-matrix stabilization (MEMS) 2.0 ecosystem model, wherein the inputs comprise weather, soil properties, plant characteristics, and management practices; creating a soil profile and dividing the soil profile into continuous soil horizons in a model input file, with user-defined depths for each horizon; running a plurality of simulations with submodels using the MEMS 2.0 ecosystem model with the inputs and divided soil profile; producing outputs from the simulations with submodels, on a daily time step or a sub-daily time step; and providing the outputs to a display device or a storage device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the submodels comprise algorithms respectively directed to an atmosphere submodel, a plant submodel, a soil surface submodel, and a soil submodel, wherein the atmosphere submodel comprises weather, evapotranspiration (ET) demand, and N deposition, wherein the plant submodel comprises aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, and exudate, wherein the soil surface submodel comprises litter and surface temperature, and wherein the soil submodel comprises soil layer, soil water, soil temperature, soil minerals, nitrate, ammonium, and soil organic matter (SOM) pools. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising while executing a model simulation, dividing the soil horizons into thinner layers to solve partial differential equations. ### Claim 18 A one-dimension ecosystem model, wherein the ecosystem model includes nitrogen (N) cycling, soil vertical water flows, dissolved organic matter (DOM) transport, plant growth, root input, and soil temperature dynamics, and wherein the ecosystem model represents distinct plant inputs and microbial processes in the litter layer and rhizosphere, and DOM, particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) dynamics in the bulk soil to a user-defined depth above the bedrock. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The ecosystem model of claim 18, wherein the ecosystem model uses data from plants to simulate litter layer, rhizosphere, and bulk soil C, N, water, and temperature, and plant growth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The ecosystem model of claim 19, wherein the litter layer simulates information including soluble litter, hydrolyzable litter, unhydrolyzable litter, and litter layer microbes, and CO2, water flow, and mineral N, and the rhizosphere simulates information including exudation, rhizosphere DOM, CO2, mineral N, rhizosphere microbes, soluble root litter, hydrolyzable root litter, and unhydrolyzable root litter, in various soil layers, and the bulk soil simulates fragmentation, depolymerization, POM, DOM, CO2, mineral N, bulk soil microbes, exchangeable and stable component pools (eMAOM and sMAOM, respectively), and leaching, in various soil layers.