A forage dynamics model for use in range or pasture environments

AbstractA deterministic model that simulates forage dynamics is described and validation results presented. The model simulates different species of grasses and forbs for a production year and provides the necessary input for a diet selection model. The model does not simulate growth, but does simulate the accumulation of live leaf and stem, the senescence of live biomass, and its transfer to dead mass using growth rates for leaf and stem of each species, which are specified for the model. Using such an approach specific types of years can be simulated. Plant components in the model include live leaf and stem, dead leaf and stem, and old dead leaf and stem which were produced during the previous growing season. These plant components were chosen because of their importance in the diet selection process and their differences in forage quality. Plant species which the model was validated against were Cynodon dactylon, Avena sativa. Schizachyrium scoparium and Paspalum plicatulum. Validation results indicated that with adjustment to input growth rates, live biomass could be adequately simulated. Deviations between measured and simulated dead components were observed for S. scopariumand P. plicatulum.High values observed for dead stem early in the trial resulted from lack of separation of dead and old dead stem material in the field sampling. Variations in dead forage throughout the season were caused by unexplained sources of variation. This indicated a need for field research to better quantify the dynamics of dead biomass. The model meets its goal of simulating biomass dynamics and forage quality of plant parts and it provides a suitable forage base to interface with diet selection and animal simulation models.