Articles
Virtual plants for interpreting the effects of planting density on yield in young macadamia orchards
Article number
1346_69
Pages
547 – 556
Language
English
Abstract
Virtual plants generated by functional-structural plant models are driven by explicit internal mechanisms in response to the environment, replicating tree architectural development and physiological functions of individual organs in the canopy.
These simulations are employed for integrating several factors to mimic and understand plant growth.
Virtual plants can be used in different ways; one of them is performing virtual experiments for interpretation of field experiments.
Many tropical and subtropical plants, like macadamia, are planted in orchards with a low planting density, and productivity could be significantly increased if planted at higher densities, as has been done in apple orchards.
However, testing such systems by replicating field experiments carried out in apple might not be enough, because other species may show different behavior.
Additionally, plant variability could mask the effects of the treatments.
Using virtual plants to interpret the field data could improve our understanding of how trees grow, resulting in a more efficient approach than trial and error.
We used a virtual macadamia tree growing in orchard conditions combining sub-models of light environment, photosynthesis, potential growth of individual organs and inter-organ competition for carbon.
Tree canopy architecture measured in the field was employed as the basis to simulate growth during one season.
Our simulations showed the effect of planting density on yield of young macadamia orchards and helped to interpret experimental results measured in the field, as well as reanalyse previously published data.
Yield patterns for a range of planting densities and ages were defined, as well as the planting density that maximizes orchard productivity, which can be helpful to improve the design of future orchards and field experiments.
This work exemplifies one way of using functional-structural plant models for practical applications in horticulture.
These simulations are employed for integrating several factors to mimic and understand plant growth.
Virtual plants can be used in different ways; one of them is performing virtual experiments for interpretation of field experiments.
Many tropical and subtropical plants, like macadamia, are planted in orchards with a low planting density, and productivity could be significantly increased if planted at higher densities, as has been done in apple orchards.
However, testing such systems by replicating field experiments carried out in apple might not be enough, because other species may show different behavior.
Additionally, plant variability could mask the effects of the treatments.
Using virtual plants to interpret the field data could improve our understanding of how trees grow, resulting in a more efficient approach than trial and error.
We used a virtual macadamia tree growing in orchard conditions combining sub-models of light environment, photosynthesis, potential growth of individual organs and inter-organ competition for carbon.
Tree canopy architecture measured in the field was employed as the basis to simulate growth during one season.
Our simulations showed the effect of planting density on yield of young macadamia orchards and helped to interpret experimental results measured in the field, as well as reanalyse previously published data.
Yield patterns for a range of planting densities and ages were defined, as well as the planting density that maximizes orchard productivity, which can be helpful to improve the design of future orchards and field experiments.
This work exemplifies one way of using functional-structural plant models for practical applications in horticulture.
Publication
Authors
I. Auzmendi, J.D. Wilkie, J. Hanan
Keywords
FSPM, growth, high density, modeling, productivity, young orchards
Online Articles (107)