Plant growth and biomass production

Abstract

In the Upper Danube basin, plant growth and biomass production strongly infl uence water, carbon and nitrogen fl uxes. The model component Biological is part of the simulation system DANUBIA and calculates plant growth and biomass production for various vegetation categories (e.g. grassland, winter wheat, sugar beet and maize). An ecohydrological model approach is needed to account for the interactions of water, carbon and nitrogen fl uxes in the soil-plantatmosphere system. Meteorological and pedological model input data are provided by dynamically coupled DANUBIA model components. When analysing global change effects on agroecosystems, it is crucial to consider agricultural decisions such as type of use and management. Biological uses this information as input data from the coupled Farming actor model. In turn, the modelled biomass production and yield data are needed by Farming for the selection of crops to be cultivated. For the model validation analysis, measured and modelled values were compared for several test fi elds covering a wide range of meteorological and pedological conditions. On the district scale, agricultural statistics were used for validation. Maps of biomass production for 1 year are shown for selected fi eld crops and managed grassland in the Upper Danube basin. Within DANUBIA, spatial and temporal changes in plant growth and biomass production for the past, present and future are assessed at the regional scale.