Using a process-based stomatal model in olive and its potential application to deficit irrigation studies

Abstract

Over the last years modeling plant transpiration has been pointed out as a powerful tool to optimize the management of irrigation in fruit trees. In this study we tested the hydromechanical model of stomata functioning proposed by Buckley et al. (2003), a model with a strong physiological basis. The great contribution of this model is that its parameters have direct physiological meaning. Firstly, the model was simplified to make its parameters estimation friendly and easy. Secondly, the model was fitted to data obtained in a hedgerow olive orchard under regulated deficit irrigation. The hydromechanical model fitted our data satisfactorily and allowed us to analyze the physiological parameters obtained.