Optimal Carbon Allocation Enhances Terrestrial Carbon Sink

Carbon allocation is one of the most important physiological processes to optimize the plant growth, which exerts a strong influence on ecosystem structure and function, with potentially large implications for the global carbon budget. However, it remains unclear how the carbon allocation pattern has changed at global scale and impacted terrestrial carbon uptake. Based on the CABLE model, this study shows the increasing partitioning ratios to leaf and wood and reducing ratio to root globally from 1979 to 2014 with the precipitation. The results imply the plant optimizes carbon allocation. Thus, optimal carbon allocation increases 16% global carbon sink of terrestrial ecosystems, and the long-term trend of carbon sink also increases 34%. Carbon allocation, associated with climate change, needs to be mapped and incorporated into terrestrial carbon cycle estimates.