CREFT a Model for Growth, Nutrient Extraction and Carbon Sequestration for Perennial Species In the Tropics.

"The model of growth and carbon sequestration for fito-tropical native and introduced species adapted - CREFT", is a tool that allows to quantify the growth, extraction of nutrients and carbon sequestration for more than 20 perennial species. The model calculates the biomass and mineral composition including carbon, for each organ through the simulation of physical and physiological processes such as plant structure and plant architecture, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, biomass and carbon partitioning, growth of leaf areal among others, from climatic information (daily sunshine, daily maximum and minimum temperature, and precipitation) and location of the plantation (latitude, longitude and altitude). The model calculate the daily climatic data for the specific site through a spatial interpolation, with the altitude as covariate, and consistent with the studies of climate regionalization. This information is the input for different physical and physiological processes of simulation and calculation for: (A) Calculation of photosynthetic active radiation. (B) Calculation of the thermal time, based on studies of modal or physiological temperatures for each species. (C) Interception of radiation by the canopy. (D) Daily leaf and whole plant photosynthesis. (E) Daily dark respiration. (F) Distribution of biomass and mineral nutrients in the plant organs. (G) Allometric calculation of the volumes of wood. (H) Calculation of biomass and carbon into other compartments (Necromass). The model outputs are in the form of tables and graphs, and present the values of carbon and nutrients stored in the period of time simulated. The validation of the model shows that simulations reach 85% of confidence for all variables simulated, for several places and different climatic offer.