The NICOLET lettuce model: a theme with variations
2004
Seginer, I. | Linker, R. | Buwalda, F. | Straten, G van | Bleyaert, P.
The NICOLET model has been developed to predict the growth and nitrate content of greenhouse lettuce. Four single-organ versions have been developed: [1] abundant supply of nitrogen (1998), [2] mild N-stress (1999), [3] severe N-stress (2003), and [4] ontogenetic changes of organic-N and water content (in preparation). The ‘abundant-N’ model [1] and the ‘mild-stress’ model [2] have two compartments: ‘structure’ and ‘vacuole’, while the ‘severe-stress’ model [3] requires a third compartment: ‘excess-carbon’, and the ‘ontogenetic’ model [4] has separate ‘metabolic’ and ‘support’ structural sub-compartments. The main special features of the NICOLET model are [1] the osmotica balance of the ‘vacuole’, where nitrate and hydrocarbons play a complementary role in maintaining a constant osmotic potential, [2] the excess-carbon compartment, where ‘dry’ carbon compounds are stored, and [3] the sub-division of the ‘structure’ into sub-compartments of different compositions. Loosely speaking, the first feature controls the nitrate concentration, the second controls the organic-N and water contents, and the third controls the ontogenetic changes. The NICOLET model has been able to mimic ‘normal’ seasonal variations of nitrate content, as well as the effects of drastic N-stress treatments. These results are illustrated by comparing measured data with model-simulations. Accurate prediction of nitrate concentration is difficult, due to its sensitivity to changes in the environment. Exact control of nitrate under commercial conditions may require transient corrective measures, such as N-interruption, in conjunction with a good plant-nitrate monitoring system.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]