Abstract
Functional-structural plant models are increasingly being used to analyse relationships between plant functioning and the topological and spatial organisation of their modular structure. In this study, the performance of an individual-based model accounting for the the architecture and population dynamics of forage legumes in multi-species grasslands was assessed. Morphogenetic shoot and root parameters were calibrated for seven widely used species. Other model parameters concerning C and N metabolism were obtained from the literature. The model was evaluated using a series of independent experiments combining the seven species in binary mixtures that were subject to regular defoliation. For all the species, the model could accurately simulate phytomer demography, leaf area dynamics, and root growth under conditions of weak competition. In addition, the plastic changes induced by competition for light and N in terms of plant development, leaf area, N uptake, and total plant biomass were correctly predicted. The different species displayed contrasting sensitivities to defoliation, and the model was able to predict the superior ability of creeping species to sustain regular defoliation. As a result of competition and management, the balance between species changed over time and was strongly dependent on the pair of species used. The model proved able to capture these differences in community dynamics. Overall, the results demonstrate that integrating the individual components of population dynamics in a process-based model can provide good predictive capacity regarding mixtures of cultivated species.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
The model simulated phytomer demography, leaf area dynamics and root growth accurately under weak competition.
Verbatim
e0“For all the species, the model could accurately simulate phytomer demography, leaf area dynamics, and root growth under conditions of weak competition”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
The model predicted competition-driven changes in plant development, leaf area and nitrogen uptake.
Verbatim
e0“the plastic changes induced by competition for light and N in terms of plant development, leaf area, N uptake, and total plant biomass were correctly predicted”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
The model predicted competition-driven total plant biomass changes.
Verbatim
e0“the plastic changes induced by competition for light and N in terms of plant development, leaf area, N uptake, and total plant biomass were correctly predicted”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
Species differed in sensitivity to defoliation.
Verbatim
e0“The different species displayed contrasting sensitivities to defoliation”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
The model predicted that creeping species better sustained regular defoliation.
Verbatim
e0“the model was able to predict the superior ability of creeping species to sustain regular defoliation”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
Species balance changed with competition and management and depended strongly on the species pair.
Verbatim
e0“As a result of competition and management, the balance between species changed over time and was strongly dependent on the pair of species used”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”
Claim · model-written summary
The model captured differences in community dynamics.
Verbatim
e0“The model proved able to capture these differences in community dynamics”
e1“population dynamics of forage legumes”