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Microbial processes mediating the cycling of carbon and nutrients in soils are complex and thus difficult to predict with mathematical models. Such complexity arises because biological and ecological dynamics interact with physical processes in the soil to shape patterns of resource acquisition and use, and ultimately of organic matter stabilization in soil. In the article collection "Advances in Modelling Soil Microbial Dynamics" (https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10DG8MTGCCF), novel mathematical approaches to tackle these complexities are presented. This perspective summarizes their findings by highlighting theoretical advances and outstanding challenges in modelling microbial processes and their physical constraints.
Manzoni et al. (Sun,) studied this question.