A model for simulating the height of rice plants

A reliable approach for modelling plant height would allow the simulation of processes with a significant impact on rice yield, e.g. lodging, floodwater effect on leaves temperature, crop-weeds competition for radiation interception, etc. In this paper we present a new model for the simulation of plant height based on the integral of the percentage of net biomass partitioned to pseudoculms. The model was parameterized and tested using data coming from six experiments carried out in Russia between 1997 and 2000, proving to be accurate in reproducing plant height for different combination site × year and during the whole crop cycle. RRMSE ranged between 11.9% and 20.3%, modelling efficiency was always close to one and the absolute value of coefficient of residual mass never exceeded 0.15. Despite a certain degree of empiricism, the model relates plant height to the allocation of biomass to pseudoculms, the plant organs which play a major role in determining the height of the canopy. The low requirements in terms of data needs make the model suitable for its inclusion also in operational cropping systems models.

CONFALONIERI Roberto;  BREGAGLIO Simone;  ROSENMUND Alexandra;  ACUTIS Marco;  SAVIN Igor; 

2011-01-04

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC46554

1161-0301,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC46554,   

10.1016/j.eja.2010.09.003,