Latitudinal effect on the growth dynamics of harvested stands of Typha: A modeling approach

A model was developed for Typha, to examine the effects of latitudinal changes in temperature and radiation on the partitioning of total biomass during the growing season into rhizomes, roots, flowering and vegetative shoots, and inflorescences. Regardless of initial rhizome biomass, both above and belowground biomasses converge on a equilibrium value, with the balance between total production and metabolic loss being latitude-specific. If aboveground biomass is harvested just once, then both above and belowground biomasses return to equilibrium values after several years. If the aboveground biomass is harvested annually, then both above and belowground biomasses converge on smaller equilibrium values, which are determined by the balance between the sum of production prior to harvesting and after harvesting, and the sum of annual metabolic losses and a loss due to harvesting. The model could be used in wetland management activities to predict the potential growth of Typha in given conditions as well as the responses of Typha stands to harvesting over a wide range of latitudes for times ranging from a season to several years