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| PLATHO a Plant Growth Model to Simulate Competition and Stress Defence |
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E. Priesack and S. Gayler
GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Soil Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
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A first version of a generic plant growth model is presented. The model simulates flow of energy and nutrients within single plants under different environmental conditions.
Gain of ressources by photosynthesis and by nutrient uptake is calculated as well as consumption of ressources due to growth, respiration and reaction to stress. The assimilated energy, which is allocated to the different plant organs is described in units of glucose. Efficiencies of growth are given as glucose consumption per newly developed dry matter of biomass. For the different plant organs leaf, stem, root and eventually fruit different growth efficiencies are prescribed. Competition for light is simulated depending on the size of, species of, and distance to neighbouring plants. Plant growth is calculated using two different growth equations to distinguish stages of plant development where energy reservoirs are mainly depeleted (i.e. during spring) respectively where growth is proportional to biomass which is able to collect energy and nutrients. Root distribution in the soil profile is modelled depending on plant species and availability of water and nutrients in the soil.
Growth simulations of competition scenarios for light between sunflowers of different heights show the impact of different carbon allocation patterns of either main insvestment into stem growth or into growth of leaves. In scenarios considering different sensitivities to ozone stress possible growth patterns for young beech trees are demonstrated.
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