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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 48(3)

Architectural modelling of maize under water stress

Colin J. Birch A F , David Thornby A E , Steve Adkins B , Bruno Andrieu C and Jim Hanan D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Land, Crop and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

B School of Land, Crop and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia.

C Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Centre de Versailles-Grignon, Unité Environment et Grandes Cultures, 78850, Thierval-Grignon, France.

D ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research, ARC Centre for Complex Systems and Advanced Computational Modelling Centre, The University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia.

E Present address: Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Leslie Research Centre, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: c.birch@uq.edu.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(3) 335-341 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06105
Submitted: 6 February 2006  Accepted: 15 May 2006   Published: 4 February 2008

Abstract

Two field experiments using maize (Pioneer 31H50) and three watering regimes [(i) irrigated for the whole crop cycle, until anthesis, (ii) not at all (experiment 1) and (iii) fully irrigated and rain grown for the whole crop cycle (experiment 2)] were conducted at Gatton, Australia, during the 2003–04 season. Data on crop ontogeny, leaf, sheath and internode lengths and leaf width, and senescence were collected at 1- to 3-day intervals. A glasshouse experiment during 2003 quantified the responses of leaf shape and leaf presentation to various levels of water stress. Data from experiment 1 were used to modify and parameterise an architectural model of maize (ADEL-Maize) to incorporate the impact of water stress on maize canopy characteristics. The modified model produced accurate fitted values for experiment 1 for final leaf area and plant height, but values during development for leaf area were lower than observed data. Crop duration was reasonably well fitted and differences between the fully irrigated and rain-grown crops were accurately predicted. Final representations of maize crop canopies were realistic. Possible explanations for low values of leaf area are provided. The model requires further development using data from the glasshouse study and before being validated using data from experiment 2 and other independent data. It will then be used to extend functionality in architectural models of maize. With further research and development, the model should be particularly useful in examining the response of maize production to water stress including improved prediction of total biomass and grain yield. This will facilitate improved simulation of plant growth and development processes allowing investigation of genotype by environment interactions under conditions of suboptimal water supply.

Additional keywords: functional–structural plant modelling, internode extension, leaf extension, Zea mays.


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