Bengt Torssell

An integrated model for growth and nutritional value of timothy

A dynamic model was formulated to simulate the above-ground dry matter growth (DM), and concentrations of crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) in stands of timothy (Phleum pratense L.). DM growth was estimated in relation to intercepted radiation, air temperature, soil water status and tissue-N concentration. CP was estimated in relation to plant uptake of N from soil mineralization and applied fertilizer, and the dilution of N during plant growth. ME was estimated in relation to plant development. The modelling approach was validated on a set of data from Sweden (63°45′N, 20°17′E) in which a stand of timothy, supplied with three levels of N, was monitored over three seasons. The model simultaneously fitted DM, CP and ME by weighting the observations with the inverse of the variances of the observations. The model fitted the data with RMS errors for DM: 52 g m−2, CP: 1·6 %-units and ME: 0·39 MJ kg DM−1. The sensitivity of the model to parameters and initial conditions is discussed in relation to method of parameter estimation. The utility of the model is discussed in relation to tactical management of leys and planning of animal-feeding systems.

Comparison of monocultures of perennial sow-thistle and spring barley in estimated shoot radiation-use and nitrogen-uptake efficiencies

Abstract Shoot radiation-use efficiency (RUE) and nitrogen-uptake efficiency (UPE) of monocultures of perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) and spring barley (Hordeum distichon L.) were quantified to assess the significance of these traits for the relative performance of the two species. RUE and UPE were derived for shoot growth and N uptake by calibrating a mechanistic model to above-ground biomass and N observations in an outdoor box experiment, conducted during two years at two soil nitrogen levels in Central Sweden. The model, which is driven by climate variables, predicts above-ground biomass and nitrogen increment as a function of intercepted radiation, temperature, and nitrogen availability. Observed values of leaf area and root development are used as input. Shoot RUE in S. arvensis was only 56% of the RUE in spring barley (1.35 and 2.40 g dry weight MJ−1, respectively). On the other hand, shoot UPE in S. arvensis at low N supply during early season was seven times higher than in barley (0.07 and 0.01 d−1, respectively). For S. arvensis, UPE was higher at the low soil nitrogen level than at high level, while the reverse was found for barley, at a given amount of biomass per area unit. We suggest that the higher shoot UPE in S. arvensis at low nitrogen supply, in comparison with the low UPE of annual small grain crops at low soil nitrogen levels, is a contributing cause for the observed increase in S. arvensis in organic farming.

Modelling species competition in mixtures of perennial sow-thistle and spring barley based on shoot radiation use efficiency

Abstract Perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) may be a serious weed in organic and conventional farming. To assess the effects of radiation acquisition and resource allocation on competitive ability, S. arvensis was grown together with spring barley (Hordeum distichon L.) in six mixtures in a replacement series with initial above-ground biomass proportions of S. arvensis ranging from 2% to 96%. A one-season experiment was made outdoors in boxes in Uppsala, Sweden, at a low level of nitrogen supply (5 g N m−2). The study tested the predictability of shoot biomass of each species based on two principal assumptions: (i) growth model parameters derived from species in monocultures could be applied in mixtures, and (ii) radiation in the mixed stand was partitioned between species proportional to their leaf area. Calibration of two parameters, for scaling of shoot radiation use efficiency and radiation partitioning respectively, were the base for the evaluation. When the coefficients were close to unity, which was the case for all mixtures dominated by barley, and for one of the mixtures with high proportion of S. arvensis in the early season, observed and predicted shoot biomass coincided well. For the evenly composed mixtures, total shoot biomass was underestimated (the scaling coefficient of shoot radiation use efficiency was>1), whereas the relative composition among species was predicted well. In the late season the principal model assumptions were not applicable to S. arvensis, likely due to increasing root allocation not accounted for in the model. Sonchus arvensis in mixtures with high proportions was planted early in relation to sowing of barley, which resulted in a comparably late development stage of S. arvensis. Consequently the relation between species development stages varied with species composition suggesting a need to introduce effects of differences in development stage into the model.

Modelling nitrogen fixation of pea ( Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract Nitrogen fixation was simulated for a leafless variety (Delta) of pea (Pisum sativum L.) in central Sweden. It is assumed that N2 fixation is basically proportional to root biomass, but limited by high root N or low substrate carbon concentrations. Input data on root carbon and nitrogen were estimated from observations of above-ground biomass and nitrogen. The simulated N2 fixation was compared with estimated values from observations using the 15N labelling technique. Test data were taken from pea monocultures and pea-oat mixtures with varying pea biomass levels during 1999. Simulated within-season accumulated N2 fixation correlated to the estimated N2 fixation with a correlation coefficient (R 2) of 0.74. For seasonal simulations, the predictability was higher (R 2=0.93). Two alternative non-dynamic models, estimating seasonal N2 fixation as proportional to above-ground biomass and above-ground N, respectively, gave lower predictability (R 2=0.83 and 0.80, respectively). The models were also applied to a second year (1998) and two other sites by comparison with accumulated N2 fixation estimated by the Difference method. A halved specific N2 fixation rate (expressed per unit of root biomass) in 1999, compared with 1998, corresponded to essentially dryer and warmer soil conditions during 1999. It was indicated that the variations in soil moisture were more important than soil temperature. It was concluded that the abiotic responses might be of great importance for modelling N2 fixation rate under different soil conditions.

Modelling below-ground shoot elongation and emergence time of Sonchus arvensis shoots

To assess emergence time of shoots from roots of the perennial weed Sonchus arvensis as a function of root weight and soil temperature, we performed an experiment to which linear models were fitted. Root parts of three distinct initial weight classes were grown in pots in the dark at constant temperatures of 4, 8 and 18°C, respectively. During five harvest occasions, prior to or at shoot emergence, below-ground shoot length was measured. Root planting depth (3, 10 and 17 cm) did not influence shoot elongation rate. The below-ground shoot elongation rate for a given initial root-weight class was estimated from the observations to be constant with time, but to increase with temperature and initial root weight. By expressing shoot length for a given day as a linear function of the number of days from planting date, and elongation rate as a linear function of temperature, we calculated (1) the accumulated temperature-sum requirement for emergence, (2) emergence time for variable temperature conditions in a clay soil using soil temperature recordings at 5-cm depth for seven seasons in central Sweden and (3) the emergence time at three elevated temperature levels and initial root-weight classes. The accumulated temperature-sum requirements for below-ground shoots of S. arvensis to reach soil surface are independent of temperature regime for roots of a given initial weight but lower for heavier than lighter roots. The temperature limit for below-ground shoot elongation to occur is about 2.0–2.5°C. Between-year variations in temperature under field conditions cause larger variation to emergence time than initial root-weight differences. An average temperature increase of 3°C would cause an earlier emergence time, in the same range (about 2 weeks) as the difference between the earliest and latest year in the current weather conditions.

Modelling Sonchus arvensis root biomass allocation to below-ground shoot and fine root growth

ABSTRACT Below-ground (bg) shoot emergence rates of Sonchus arvensis are dependent on temperature and root weight. However, it is unknown to what extent this is due to a root depletion rate that depends on initial root weight, or due to differences in resource allocation to fine root and bg shoot growth. To resolve this, we retrieved data from an experiment in which plants were grown in the dark at constant temperature (4°C, 8°C, and 18°C) and harvested prior to or at shoot emergence. A dynamic mass-balance model, in which biomass of the initial root was allocated to bg shoot and fine root daily growth, and where respiration took place from all tissues, was used. The relative depletion rate of root biomass (RDR; d−1) and fraction of the depleted biomass allocated to bg shoots (SFRR) were estimated and calibrated to observed biomass. The RDR increased with initial root weight and temperature and SFFR was highest for light roots and lowest for heaviest roots, whereas the rest was allocated to fine root biomass. The length-to-biomass ratio of bg shoots decreased with initial root weight. Under between-year weather variations (2004–2010), the reduction in root biomass during the coldest April–May was simulated to be over 12 days delayed compared with the warmest spring. The influence of biomass allocation on bg shoot elongation of heavier roots was thus stimulated by a larger fraction of root biomass being depleted, but counteracted by a smaller fraction of it allocated into bg shoot elongation, compared with lighter roots. The complexity of shoot emergence based on root depletion estimates may be a reason why predictions based on only an accumulated root weight-specific temperature sum, as proposed by a previous study, are expected to be less uncertain than those based on root depletion estimates.