Quantitative description of vertical organic matter distribution in real soil profiles by means a simple continuous model

•Simple continuous model of soil organic matter (SOM) transformation is modified.•The model reflects only general trends of gradual SOM transformation without details.•The new modifications bring the model closer to the notions of soil processes nature.•Predicted vertical SOM distributions are compared to field data from various biomes.•Quantitative correspondence between model predictions and field data is achieved.

Previously we have proposed a continuous model of soil organic matter (SOM) transformation which was based on describing only the most general notions of this process - a gradual increase in SOM stability toward transformation, occurring concurrently with partial decomposition of SOM. The model provided qualitative description of vertical SOM distributions in different soils. In the present study this model has been modified to make the description more realistic. The study demonstrates quantitative correspondence between the calculated and averaged observed vertical distributions of SOM for different biomes.