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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228568
Title: Plant growth simulation for landscape scale hydrologic modeling

Author
item Kiniry, James
item MACDONALD, J - LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY
item KEMANIAN, ARMEN - TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH
item WATSON, BRETT - UNIV SASKATCHEWAN
item PUTZ, GORDON - UNIV SASKATCHEWAN
item PREPAS, ELLIE - UNIV SASKATCHEWAN

Submitted to: Hydrological Sciences Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2008
Publication Date: 10/15/2009
Citation: Kiniry, J.R., MacDonald, J.D., Kemanian, A.R., Watson, B., Putz, G., Prepas, E.E. 2008. Plant growth simulation for landscape-scale hydrologic modelling. Hydrological Sciences Journal. 53(5):1030-1042.

Interpretive Summary: Simulation models large enough to simulate whole landscapes can be improved by incorporating realistic, process-oriented plant models for simulating crops, grasses, and woody species. Our goal was to present some approaches for plant modeling applicable to hydrologic models like SWAT that can affect the accuracy in the simulating several components of the water and nutrient biogeochemical cycles. We first described some unique aspects of the general plant model ALMANAC. Next, we described how a revised version of the ALMANAC model simulated changes in forest ecosystems. Finally, we discussed alternative physiological and physical process simulation techniques.

Technical Abstract: Landscape scale hydrologic models can be improved by incorporating realistic, process-oriented plant models for simulating crops, grasses, and woody species. The objective of this project was to present some approaches for plant modeling applicable to hydrologic models like SWAT that can affect the accuracy in the simulating several components of the water and nutrient biogeochemical cycles. First, we described some unique aspects of the general plant model ALMANAC. Next, we described how a revised version of the ALMANAC model simulated complex successional changes in forest ecosystems. Finally, we discussed alternative physiological and physical process simulation techniques that could increase simulation accuracy in SWAT-type models.