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Development of TREEGRO: A Fruit Tree Model for DSSAT
Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org
Citation: Paper number 033071, 2003 ASAE Annual Meeting . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15003) @2003Authors: K.T. Morgan, J.W. Jones, J.M.S. Scholberg, K.J. Boote
Keywords: Citrus, model, simulation
Modeling crop growth and production involves the estimation of state variables such as leaf, stem, root and fruit biomass over time. The objective was to determine if CROPGRO, a model for row crops could be used to develop TREEGRO to simulate annual citrus production. Citrus biomass, N distribution, and parameters affecting the length of time from harvest to flower, flower to fruit and seed growth, and fruit fill duration were estimated from literature sources. These changes increased the growing season from 70 d to 350 d. Simulations were run using annual N applications of 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 using 10 years of recorded weather values. Simulated mean minimum, and at-harvest leaf N concentrations were 2.13 and 2.19, 2.19 and 2.26, and 2.23 and 2.31 for the 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 treatments, respectively. These values are similar to those reported in the literature. Leaf tissue biomass for the 120 kg ha-1 treatment increased by 3 % over the season, whereas leaf biomass for the 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 treatments were similar or lower at the end of the season. Leaf, stem and root biomass gain over the season was greatest for the highest total N application rate. Leaf N concentrations at the end-of-the season were similar or slightly lower for the 240 and 180 kg N ha-1 treatments. Further refinements of TREEGRO are needed to provide better estimates of biomass accumulation, nitrogen and carbon balances, and fruit yield.
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