Ibrahim H. auteur aut IRD Pansu Marc auteur aut IRD Blavet Didier auteur aut IRD Hatira A. auteur aut IRD McDonald P. auteur aut IRD Bernoux Martial auteur aut IRD Drevon J. J. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access This study evaluated a framework for modelling the continuous exchange of carbon (C) between the atmosphere, plants, humus, and microorganisms, proposing a plant C model coupled to MOMOS, an existing microbial C model. C data were collected on low fertility cereal-legume cropping systems. Plant C and microbial C were modelled simultaneously and the growth parameters of plants and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms were fitted to the data. All C exchanges were successfully predicted using the same weather correction for plant and microbial processes. Most of the photosynthetic production was allocated to the roots, reducing yields. The C losses were found modelled mainly by root respiration for cereals, probably as an energy source for nutrient explorings, and by root mortality for legumes as a growth source for decomposers and symbiotic nodules. The effect of root-nodule activity on shoot growth was found non-linear. The system was modelled as a sink of 4.2 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1) in the soil's labile C reserve. This paper coordinates theoretical bases for modelling the processes regulating plant productivity associated with plant C losses. The tool appears to be robust and is now available for calculating the essential parameters of agro-ecology and climate change. specialized Carbon flows Microbial biomass Microbial exchanges Model proposition Agro-ecology Global change 074 020 076 082 398 1-2 381-397 2016 0032-079X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066212 10.1007/s11104-015-2665-4 0032-079X [F B010066212] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066212 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2016/03/010066212.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2016-04-01 2017-08-23 fdi:010066212 fre