Finite Differences and Integral Balance Methods Applied to Nutrient Uptake by Roots of Crops

The nutrient uptake by growing roots of crops is studied. An approximation by a moving boundary model is given and a solution through the integral balance method is obtained. Other solutions through the front-fixing method and the application of the finite differences method in its explicit and implicit versions are obtained. Moreover, an additional solution through the front-tracking and explicit finite differences method is obtained. The algorithms are applied to compute K, Mg and P uptake by pine seedlings. The results obtained for the four methods are compared with experimental results as with predictions of other well known models based on fixed domains such as the Barber-Cushman model.

Keywords:

• Moving Boundary Model
• Integral Balance Method
• Front Fixing and Finite Differences Model

Notes

(†)Source: Kelly et al., 1992 [16].