SIGNIWA is a new dynamic simulation model for grass growth, nitrogen, water and phosphorous cycling in the monoculture and mixture of grass & legume.
The current version mainly focuses on the first two parts, grass growth and nitrogen cycling on the field scale. The processes include photosynthesis, respiration, the allocation of net photosynthesis to leaf, stem and root, leaf death, digestibility which will determine cutting dates and times in a year, decomposition of organic matter, slurry application, mineralization, immobilization, nitrification, denitrification, leaching, plant uptake of nitrogen and N fixation.
Phosphorous and wate movements will be built in in the future versions.
A new Windows version of SIGNIWA, grass growth, nitrogen and water cycling in the monoculture and/or mixture has been released. (01/1999)Compared to the old version (DOS) released in May, 1997, water and heat simulation have be built in. The processes now include in the model photosynthesis, respiration, the allocation of net photosynthesis to leaf, stem and root, leaf death, digestibility which will determine cutting dates and times in a year, decomposition of organic matter, slurry application, mineralization, immobilization, nitrification, denitrification, leaching, plant uptake of notrogen and N fixation, evapotranspiration, water uptake, ground water and surface pool, snow, water flow in the soil, thermal properties and frost, etc. There are 382 variables which include every aspects of grass growth and development, nitrogen and water cycling, and heat transformation. The SIGNIWA is free of charge to distribute, if you are interested in and would like to recieve this model, please contact Dr. Lianhai Wu.