Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model
Poplar trees (<i>Populus spp</i>.) are some of the fastest growing hardwoods used for biomass production. There are, however, conflicting observations about water use of poplars associated with the impact on local water resources. A STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning L...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/547 |
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| author | Ying Ouyang Satyanarayan Dev Johnny M. Grace III Devendra M. Amatya Theodor D. Leininger |
| author_facet | Ying Ouyang Satyanarayan Dev Johnny M. Grace III Devendra M. Amatya Theodor D. Leininger |
| author_sort | Ying Ouyang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poplar trees (<i>Populus spp</i>.) are some of the fastest growing hardwoods used for biomass production. There are, however, conflicting observations about water use of poplars associated with the impact on local water resources. A STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation) model was modified to investigate the aboveground biomass production and water use in a mature (6 to 8 yrs. old) poplar plantation for a 3-year simulation period. The model predicted the typical annual pattern of soil evaporation, root water uptake, and leaf water transpiration in the poplar plantation increasing from winter to summer followed by respective decreases from summer to winter. Root water uptake and leaf water transpiration were proportional to the soil water content. More water was needed to produce the same amount of biomass during summer than during other seasons. Less water was consumed to produce the same amount of biomass as the age of the poplar trees increased. The net increase in biomass over the 3-year period was 0.69 × 10<sup>4</sup> kg/ha, which was equivalent to a 65% increase in biomass. The average rate of daily water use to daily biomass production was 1.05 × 10<sup>9</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> water/kg biomass/ha. A good linear correlation between cumulative biomass production (CBP) and cumulative water use (CWU) was identified: Y<sub>CBP</sub> = 0.001 ∗ X<sub>CWU</sub>, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99, <i>p</i> < 0.001. This simple correlation provides a very good reference to estimate poplar water use efficiency (i.e., ratio of water use to biomass production) in growing regions where water resources are a limiting factor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:36:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e23d0d682b346eda34d4b8452e18233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:36:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e23d0d682b346eda34d4b8452e182332023-12-01T20:54:29ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-03-0113454710.3390/f13040547Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based ModelYing Ouyang0Satyanarayan Dev1Johnny M. Grace III2Devendra M. Amatya3Theodor D. Leininger4USDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, 775 Stone Blvd., Thompson Hall, Room 309, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USABiological Systems Engineering, Florida A&M University, 1409, Wahnish Way, Tallahassee, FL 32303, USAUSDA Forest Service, Center for Forest Watershed Research, 1740 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Perry-Paige Bldg., Suite 303 North, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USAUSDA Forest Service, Center for Forest Watershed Research, 3734 Highway 402, Cordesville, SC 29434, USAUSDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, 432 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USAPoplar trees (<i>Populus spp</i>.) are some of the fastest growing hardwoods used for biomass production. There are, however, conflicting observations about water use of poplars associated with the impact on local water resources. A STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation) model was modified to investigate the aboveground biomass production and water use in a mature (6 to 8 yrs. old) poplar plantation for a 3-year simulation period. The model predicted the typical annual pattern of soil evaporation, root water uptake, and leaf water transpiration in the poplar plantation increasing from winter to summer followed by respective decreases from summer to winter. Root water uptake and leaf water transpiration were proportional to the soil water content. More water was needed to produce the same amount of biomass during summer than during other seasons. Less water was consumed to produce the same amount of biomass as the age of the poplar trees increased. The net increase in biomass over the 3-year period was 0.69 × 10<sup>4</sup> kg/ha, which was equivalent to a 65% increase in biomass. The average rate of daily water use to daily biomass production was 1.05 × 10<sup>9</sup> cm<sup>3</sup> water/kg biomass/ha. A good linear correlation between cumulative biomass production (CBP) and cumulative water use (CWU) was identified: Y<sub>CBP</sub> = 0.001 ∗ X<sub>CWU</sub>, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99, <i>p</i> < 0.001. This simple correlation provides a very good reference to estimate poplar water use efficiency (i.e., ratio of water use to biomass production) in growing regions where water resources are a limiting factor.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/547biomass productionpoplarSTELLA modelwater use |
| spellingShingle | Ying Ouyang Satyanarayan Dev Johnny M. Grace III Devendra M. Amatya Theodor D. Leininger Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model Forests biomass production poplar STELLA model water use |
| title | Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model |
| title_full | Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model |
| title_fullStr | Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model |
| title_short | Simulating Biomass Production and Water Use of Poplars in a Plantation Using a STELLA-Based Model |
| title_sort | simulating biomass production and water use of poplars in a plantation using a stella based model |
| topic | biomass production poplar STELLA model water use |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/547 |
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