A modelling analysis to identify plant traits for enhanced water-use efficiency of pasture
T. A. White A B C and V. O. Snow A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A AgResearch, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
B Kansas State University, 3706 Throckmorton Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: todd1@ksu.edu
Crop and Pasture Science 63(1) 63-76 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP11250
Submitted: 7 September 2011 Accepted: 15 February 2012 Published: 13 March 2012
Abstract
As pressure on water resources increases, pasture species that express traits for improved water-use efficiency (WUE) while maintaining desirable agronomic and production characteristics are needed. The objective of this study was to use a biophysical modelling analysis to test the sensitivity of key pasture plant functional traits on WUE. Biomass production and water use of monocultures of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with varying plant traits were determined under a range of soil, climate, and irrigation conditions. Five plant traits (temperature sensitivity, light extinction, root depth, root partitioning, and sensitivity to water stress) were investigated. Parameters related to root systems had the greatest impact across all environments on harvestable dry matter and WUE. In particular, root depth and root partitioning showed potential for improving both harvestable yield and WUE. These traits merit further attention under more realistic soil conditions, simultaneously taking into consideration other desirable traits such as nutrient capture and agronomic suitability for grazed systems.
Additional keywords: APSIM, biophysical modelling, drainage, irrigation, pastoral systems.
References
Asseng S, Foster I, Turner NC (2011) The impact of temperature variability on wheat yields. Global Change Biology 17, 997–1012.| The impact of temperature variability on wheat yields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blum A (2005) Drought resistance, water-use efficiency, and yield potential—are they compatible, dissonant, or mutually exclusive? Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 1159–1168.
| Drought resistance, water-use efficiency, and yield potential—are they compatible, dissonant, or mutually exclusive?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blum A (2009) Effective use of water (EUW) and not water-use efficiency (WUE) is the target of crop yield improvement under drought stress. Field Crops Research 112, 119–123.
| Effective use of water (EUW) and not water-use efficiency (WUE) is the target of crop yield improvement under drought stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bouman BAM (2007) A conceptual framework for the improvement of crop water productivity at different spatial scales. Agricultural Systems 93, 43–60.
| A conceptual framework for the improvement of crop water productivity at different spatial scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown HE, Moot DJ, Pollock KM (2005) Herbage production, persistence, nutritive characteristics and water use of perennial forages grown over 6 years on a Wakanui silt loam. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 48, 423–439.
| Herbage production, persistence, nutritive characteristics and water use of perennial forages grown over 6 years on a Wakanui silt loam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Canadell J, Jackson RB, Ehleringer JR, Mooney HA, Sala OE, Schulze ED (1996) Maximum rooting depth of vegetation types at the global scale. Oecologia 108, 583–595.
| Maximum rooting depth of vegetation types at the global scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clothier BE, Green SR, Deurer M (2010) The sustainable use of water resources for agriculture and horticulture. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 72, XIX–XXVI.
Cornelissen JHC, Lavorel S, Garnier E, Diaz S, Buchmann N, Gurvich DE, Reich PB, ter Steege H, Morgan HD, van der Heijden MGA, Pausas JG, Poorter H (2003) A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide. Australian Journal of Botany 51, 335–380.
| A handbook of protocols for standardised and easy measurement of plant functional traits worldwide.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Craine JM, Froehle J, Tilman DG, Wedin DA, Chapin FS (2001) The relationships among root and leaf traits of 76 grassland species and relative abundance along fertility and disturbance gradients. Oikos 93, 274–285.
| The relationships among root and leaf traits of 76 grassland species and relative abundance along fertility and disturbance gradients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crush JR, Nichols SN (2010) Progress towards forage plant root systems for sustainable dairying. In ‘Proceedings of the 4th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2010’. (Eds GR Edwards, RH Bryant) pp. 50–52. (Caxton Press, Lincoln University: Lincoln, New Zealand) www.sciquest.org.nz/ADSS2010
Crush JR, Waller JE, Care DA (2005) Root distribution and nitrate interception in eleven temperate forage grasses. Grass and Forage Science 60, 385–392.
| Root distribution and nitrate interception in eleven temperate forage grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crush JR, Easton HS, Waller JE, Hume DE, Faville MJ (2007) Genotypic variation in patterns of root distribution, nitrate interception and response to moisture stress of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) mapping populations. Grass and Forage Science 62, 265–273.
| Genotypic variation in patterns of root distribution, nitrate interception and response to moisture stress of a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) mapping populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtVyrs77J&md5=b6aab7f58a2e2c8b9f4b92998648b305CAS |
DairyNZ (2011) Feed: Pasture Growth Data. Available at: www.dairynz.co.nz/page/pageid/2145861167/Pasture_Growth_Data
Diaz S, Cabido M (1997) Plant functional types and ecosystem function in relation to global change. Journal of Vegetation Science 8, 463–474.
Ehleringer JR, Monson RK (1993) Evolutionary and ecological aspexts of photosynthetic pathway variation. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 24, 411–439.
| Evolutionary and ecological aspexts of photosynthetic pathway variation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Faurie O, Soussana JF, Sinoquet H (1996) Radiation interception, partitioning and use in grass-clover mixtures. Annals of Botany 77, 35–45.
| Radiation interception, partitioning and use in grass-clover mixtures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fukai S, Cooper M (1995) Development of drought-resistant cultivars using physio-morphological traits in rice. Field Crops Research 40, 67–86.
| Development of drought-resistant cultivars using physio-morphological traits in rice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gardner WR (1960) Dynamic aspects of water availability to plants. Soil Science 89, 63–73.
| Dynamic aspects of water availability to plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hammer GL, Van Oosterom E, McLean G, Chapman SC, Broad I, Harland P, Muchow RC (2010) Adapting APSIM to model the physiology and genetics of complex adaptive traits in field crops. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 2185–2202.
| Adapting APSIM to model the physiology and genetics of complex adaptive traits in field crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXmsVGnsr0%3D&md5=22cc456718da8925d1b3495c58e54869CAS |
Haynes RJ, Williams PH (1993) Nutrient cycling and soil fertility in the grazed pasture ecosystem. Advances in Agronomy 49, 119–199.
| Nutrient cycling and soil fertility in the grazed pasture ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXltlygs7Y%3D&md5=d67b75ea160c662c7290c715a00073f3CAS |
Hewitt AE (1998) ‘New Zealand Soil Classification.’ 2nd edn (Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd Press: Lincoln, New Zealand)
Hillel D (1980) ‘Applications of soil physics.’ (Academic Press: New York)
Holzworth DP, Huth NI, de Voil PG (2010) Simplifying environmental model reuse. Environmental Modelling & Software 25, 269–275.
| Simplifying environmental model reuse.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holzworth DP, Huth NI, deVoil PG (2011) Simple software processes and tests improve the reliability and usefulness of a model. Environmental Modelling & Software 26, 510–516.
| Simple software processes and tests improve the reliability and usefulness of a model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Howell TA (2001) Enhancing water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture. Agronomy Journal 93, 281–289.
| Enhancing water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hutchings MJ, John EA (2004) The effects of environmental heterogeneity on root growth and root/shoot partitioning. Annals of Botany 94, 1–8.
| The effects of environmental heterogeneity on root growth and root/shoot partitioning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huth NI, Keating BA, Bristow KL, Verburg K, Ross PJ (1996) SWIMV2 in APSIM: An integrated plant, soil water, and solute modelling framework. In ‘Proceedings 8th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Toowoomba, Qld. (Ed. M Asghar) p. 667. (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute: Gosford, NSW)
Huth NI, Carberry PS, Poulton PL, Brennan LE, Keating BA (2002) A framework for simulating agroforestry options for the low rainfall areas of Australia using APSIM. European Journal of Agronomy 18, 171–185.
| A framework for simulating agroforestry options for the low rainfall areas of Australia using APSIM.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson IR (2008) ‘Biophysical pasture model documentation: Model documentation for DairyMod. EcoMod and the SGS Pasture Model.’ (IMJ Consultants: Armidale, NSW) Available at: www.imj.com.au/consultancy/wfsat/wfsat.html
Johnson IR, Chapman DF, Snow VO, Eckard RJ, Parsons AJ, Lambert MG, Cullen BR (2008) DairyMod and EcoMod: biophysical pasture simulation models for Australia and New Zealand. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 621–631.
| DairyMod and EcoMod: biophysical pasture simulation models for Australia and New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keating BA, Carberry PS, Hammer GL, Probert ME, Robertson MJ, Holzworth DP, Huth NI, Hargreaves JNG, Meinke H, Hochman Z, McLean G, Verburg K, Snow VO, Dimes JP, Silburn DM, Wang E, Brown SD, Bristow KL, Asseng S, Chapman SC, McCown RL, Freebairn DM, Smith CJ (2003) An overview of APSIM, a model designed for farming systems simulation. European Journal of Agronomy 18, 267–288.
| An overview of APSIM, a model designed for farming systems simulation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Keatinge JDH, Garrett MK, Stewart RH (1980) Response of perennial and Italian ryegrass cultivars to temperature and soil water potential. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 94, 171–176.
| Response of perennial and Italian ryegrass cultivars to temperature and soil water potential.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kemp DR, Culvenor RA (1994) Improving the grazing and drought tolerance of temperate perennial grasses. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 37, 365–378.
| Improving the grazing and drought tolerance of temperate perennial grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirkegaard JA, Hunt JR (2010) Increasing productivity by matching farming system management and genotype in water-limited environments. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 4129–4143.
| Increasing productivity by matching farming system management and genotype in water-limited environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtlShtLnL&md5=5362801ef32803782826ba4e06988794CAS |
Lambers H, Chapin FS, III, Pons TL (2008) ‘Plant physiological ecology.’ 2nd edn. (Springer: Heidelberg, Germany)
Li FY, Snow VO, Holzworth DP, Johnson IR (2010) Integration of a pasture model into APSIM. In ‘Proceedings of the 15th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Joint New Zealand–Australian Agronomy Society Conference. Lincoln, New Zealand. (Eds H Dove, R Culvenor) (Australian Society of Agronomy/The Regional Institute: Gosford, NSW) Available at: www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2010/farming-systems/simulation-decision-support/6993_lifyrevis.htm
Li FY, Snow VO, Holzworth DP (2011) Modelling seasonal and geographical pattern of pasture production in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 331–352.
| Modelling seasonal and geographical pattern of pasture production in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
MacAdam JW (2009) ‘Structure and function of plants.’ (Wiley-Blackwell: Ames, IA)
Marschner H, Kirby EA, Cakmak I (1996) Effect of mineral nutritional status on shoot-root partitioning of photoassimilates and cycling of mineral nutrients. Journal of Experimental Botany 47, 1255–1263.
| Effect of mineral nutritional status on shoot-root partitioning of photoassimilates and cycling of mineral nutrients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XmtVGqs7k%3D&md5=23dbd0535c40efc5c284a872264d2f72CAS |
Martin RJ, Thomas SM, Stevens DR, Zyskowski RF, Moot DJ, Fraser TJ (2006) Improving water use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in Canterbury. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 68, 155–160.
McKenzie FR, Jacobs JL, Ward GN (2006) Irrigated dairy pasture yield and water use efficiency responses to summer applied nitrogen. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 68, 161–164.
Meier EA, Thorburn PJ, Probert ME (2006) Occurrence and simulation of nitrificaiton in two contrasting sugarcane soils from Australian wet tropics. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44, 1–9.
| Occurrence and simulation of nitrificaiton in two contrasting sugarcane soils from Australian wet tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtlWjsr8%3D&md5=b8db831000a168b42b92a27ebd455cabCAS |
Moore AD, Holzworth DP, Herrmann NI, Huth NI, Robertson MJ (2007) The Common Modelling Protocol: A hierarchical framework for simulation of agricultural and environmental systems. Agricultural Systems 95, 37–48.
| The Common Modelling Protocol: A hierarchical framework for simulation of agricultural and environmental systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore AD, Robertson MJ, Routley R (2011) Evaluation of the water use efficiency of alternative farm practices at a range of spatial and temporal scales: A conceptual framework and a modelling approach. Agricultural Systems 104, 162–174.
| Evaluation of the water use efficiency of alternative farm practices at a range of spatial and temporal scales: A conceptual framework and a modelling approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moser LE, Jennings JA (2007) Grass and legume structure and morphology. In ‘Forages. The science of grassland agriculture Vol. II’. 6th edn (Eds RF Barnes, CJ Nelson, KJ Moore, M Collins) pp. 15–35. (Blackwell Publishing: Ames, IA)
Müller I, Schmid B, Weiner J (2000) The effect of nutrient availability on biomass allocation patterns in 27 species of herbaceous plants. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 3, 115–127.
| The effect of nutrient availability on biomass allocation patterns in 27 species of herbaceous plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neal JS, Fulkerson WJ, Sutton BG (2011) Differences in water-use efficiency among perennial forages used by the dairy industry under optimum and deficit irrigation. Irrigation Science 29, 213–232.
Pegram G, Orr S, Williams C (2009) Investigating Shared Risk in Water: Corporate Engagement with the Public Policy Process. http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/investigating_shared_risk.pdf (accessed 29 April 2011).
Pembleton KG, Rawnsley RP, Donaghy DJ (2011) Yield and water-use efficiency of contrasting lucerne genotypes grown in a cool temperate environment. Crop & Pasture Science 62, 610–623.
| Yield and water-use efficiency of contrasting lucerne genotypes grown in a cool temperate environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pimentel D, Houser J, Preiss E, White O, Fang H, Mesnick L, Barsky T, Tariche S, Schreck J, Alpert S (1997) Water Resources: Agriculture, the environment, and society. Bioscience 47, 97–106.
| Water Resources: Agriculture, the environment, and society.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pinheiro HA, DaMatta FM, Chaves ARM, Loureiro ME, Ducatti C (2005) Drought tolerance is associated with rooting depth and stomatal control of water use in clones of Coffea canephora. Annals of Botany 96, 101–108.
| Drought tolerance is associated with rooting depth and stomatal control of water use in clones of Coffea canephora.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Popay AJ, Crush JR (2010) Influence of different forage grasses on nitrate capture and leaching loss from a pumice soil. Grass and Forage Science 65, 28–37.
| Influence of different forage grasses on nitrate capture and leaching loss from a pumice soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktlSnurw%3D&md5=9a2680db0ef0783418e6ddead0c46c01CAS |
Probert ME, Keating BA, Thompson JP, Parton WJ (1995) Modelling water, nitrogen and crop yield for a long-term fallow management experiment. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 941–950.
| Modelling water, nitrogen and crop yield for a long-term fallow management experiment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rickard DS, McBride SD, Fitzgerald PD (1986) The effect of soil moisture deficits on pasture yield. New Zealand Agricultural Science 20, 7–12.
Ross PJ, Bristow KL, Bailey SW, Smettem KRJ (1992) Using SWIM (Version 2) to model soil water and solute movement. In ‘Agronomy Abstracts’. 1–6 November 1992, Minneapolis, MN. p. 83. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)
Scanlon B, Jolly I, Sophocleous M, Zhang L (2007) Global impacts of conversions from natural to agricultural ecosystems on water resources: Quantity versus quality. Water Resources Research 43, W03437
| Global impacts of conversions from natural to agricultural ecosystems on water resources: Quantity versus quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schapendonk AHCM, Stol W, van Kraalingen DWG, Bouman BAM (1998) LINGRA, a sink/source model to simulate grassland productivity in Europe. European Journal of Agronomy 9, 87–100.
| LINGRA, a sink/source model to simulate grassland productivity in Europe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Snow VO, Huth NI (2004) The APSIM–MICROMET module. HortResearch Internal Report No. 2004/12848. Auckland, HortResearch. 18 pp. Available at: www.apsim.info/wiki/public/Attachments/Module-Documentation/Micromet.pdf
Swarthout D, Harper E, Judd S, Gonthier D, Shyne R, Stowe T, Bultman T (2009) Measures of leaf-level water-use efficiency in drought stressed endophyte infected and non-infected tall fescue grasses. Environmental and Experimental Botany 66, 88–93.
| Measures of leaf-level water-use efficiency in drought stressed endophyte infected and non-infected tall fescue grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tait A, Turner R (2005) Generating multiyear gridded daily rainfall over New Zealand. Journal of Applied Meteorology 44, 1315–1323.
| Generating multiyear gridded daily rainfall over New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thorburn PJ, Probert ME, Robertson FA (2001) Modelling decomposition of sugar cane surface residues with APSIM-residue. Field Crops Research 70, 223–232.
| Modelling decomposition of sugar cane surface residues with APSIM-residue.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tilman D, Cassman KG, Matson PA, Naylor N, Polasky S (2002) Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices. Nature 418, 671–677.
| Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlvVyltb0%3D&md5=1c60810662d3abfb7f5a8d82d2e89d8aCAS |
Verburg K, Ross PJ, Bristow KL (1996) ‘SWIMv2.1 User Manual.’ Divisional Report No. 130. (CSIRO Division of Soils: Canberra)
Violle C, Navas M-L, Vile D, Kazakou E, Fortunel C, Hummel I, Garnier E (2007) Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos 116, 882–892.
| Let the concept of trait be functional!Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Volaire F, Lelievre F (2001) Drought survival in Dactylis glomerata and Festuca arundinacea under similar rooting conditions in tubes. Plant and Soil 229, 225–234.
| Drought survival in Dactylis glomerata and Festuca arundinacea under similar rooting conditions in tubes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXit1aqu7c%3D&md5=e792092e65ded5d4c2f74cfdf06d8ed4CAS |
Volaire F, Thomas H (1995) Effects of drought on water relations, mineral uptake, water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation and survival of two contrasting populations of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). Annals of Botany 75, 513–524.
| Effects of drought on water relations, mineral uptake, water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation and survival of two contrasting populations of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Webb TH (2010) Appendix 3: Soil data for land overlying alluvial aquifers in Canterbury. February 2009. In ‘Estimating nitrate-nitrogen leaching rates under rural land uses in Canterbury’. Environment Canterbury Regional Council Report No. R10/127. (Eds L Lilburne, TH Webb, R Ford, V Bidwell) pp. 32–35. (Environment Canterbury: Canterbury, New Zealand) http://ecan.govt.nz/publications/Reports/estimating-nitrate-nitrogen-leaching-rates-under-rural-land-uses-000910.pdf
White TA, Johnson IR, Snow VO (2008) Comparison of outputs of a biophysical simulation model for pasture growth and composition with measured data under dryland and irrigated conditions in New Zealand. Grass and Forage Science 63, 339–349.
| Comparison of outputs of a biophysical simulation model for pasture growth and composition with measured data under dryland and irrigated conditions in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
