Modelling of Nitrogen Allocation and Partitioning Within Lucerne (\u3cem\u3eMedicago Sativa\u3c/em\u3e) Shoot Tissues During Recovery from Defoliation: An Approach to Estimate Forage Production and Nitrogen Composition

Abstract

Lucerne has been grown over centuries for forage. Its forage production is strongly correlated to the initial taproot and stubble N reserves (Avice et al., 1996; Meuriot et al., 2004). However, the influence of cutting management on the level of N storage and the contribution of these N reserves to forage production still remain unclear and need to be studied at the whole plant level. For this purpose, a deterministic model of N allocation within the different organs and partitioning within different biochemical N pools was developed for lucerne with high and low initial N status and cutting heights of 6 or 15 cm