Test the effect of different plant density in model outputs

[lpmorenoc]

Original outputs have maize 6.2 plants/m2, soybean 47 plants/m2

1. Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2.

   • [x] Monoculture
   • [x] Potential
   • [x] Water limited
   • [x] Nutrient limited

2. Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, and increase soybean to 60 plants/m2.

   • [x] Monoculture
   • [x] Potential
   • [x] Water limited
   • [x] Nutrient limited

3. Reduce maize density to 0 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2. Edit: This was not possible because it brings back an error when the population is 0.

   • [ ] Monoculture, are they similar?
   • [ ] Potential
   • [ ] Water limited
   • [ ] Nutrient limited

[lpmorenoc]

Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2

Water limited

• The LAI for maize is reduced compared with the density of 6.2 plants/m2 while the LAI for soybean increases.
• I am not sure why the LAI of soybean as a mixture is initially higher for water-limited conditions than for potential.

Now:

Before:

• Still, the biomass of maize is higher than for soybean, but soybean increases its biomass with the lower density of maize: Now: Before:

• Some days, the water stress index is higher for maize as a monoculture which could explain lower LAI under monoculture compared to the mixture. However, I am not sure why this water stress index is higher under monoculture. Now: Before:

• Some days, the fraction of radiation intercepted for maize is slightly higher under mixture (different equation), and it is possible that it contributed to higher root length density for mixture with a lower water stress factor. Now:

[lpmorenoc]

Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2

Nutrient limited without N fixation

• When the density of maize is reduced, the soybean does better under N limited conditions: Now:

Before:

• Also, the potential N uptake increases after 130 days after planting. Now:

Before:

• The demand for N increases for soybean while the one for maize is reduced: Now:

Before:

• However, soybean keeps the high N stress index while it is reduced for maize: Now:

Before:

[lpmorenoc]

Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2

Nutrient limited with N fixation

• Soybean does better when the N fixation is included with higher LAI than maize: Now: Before (with N fixation):

• To review: The LAI now for soybean is higher than under water stress conditions, is it right/normal? Maybe because with just water restrictions there is more competition with maize? Now: Before:

• The potential N uptake increases for soybean: Now: Before:

• The potential N demand also increases for soybean: Now: Before:

• The N stress index is reduced being maize more stressed: Now: Before:

[lpmorenoc]

Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 60 plants/m2

Water limited Results are similar than for maize 3.1 plants/m2 and soybean 47 plants/m2 with slightly higher values for soybean:

[lpmorenoc]

Reduce maize density to 3.1 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 60 plants/m2

Nutrient limited with N fixation

[lpmorenoc]

Maize density of 6.2 plants/m2, keeping soybean at 47 plants/m2 same height

Nutrient limited Now (with N fixation):

Before (without N fixation):

• The root length density is still higher for maize: Now: