A kinetic model for wood decomposition is proposed based on experimental data on the decomposition of wood from 12 species.The model takes into account the different decay coeficients for labile and recalcitrant compounds, in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It was verifed that: 1. the oxidation process of recalcitrant fractions are the main pathway for mineralization, because the leaching and/or mineralization of the labile compounds is low (less than 15%); 2. the aquatic environment favour the decay processes and the increase of mineralization coefficients of recalcitrant fractions.
decay; kinetic model; wood
