Allocation of carbon and nitrogen as a function of the internal nitrogen status of a plant: modelling allocation under non-steady-state situations

In this paper we model allocation of carbon and nitrogen to roots and leaves as a function of the nitrogen status of a plant. Under steady-state conditions, allocation of carbon and nitrogen to leaves is exponentially (positively) correlated with plant nitrogen concentration, whereas allocation to roots is correlated negatively, also in an exponential manner. Allocation functions derived under steady-state conditions are used to simulate biomass partitioning under non-steady-state nutrient conditions. Upon nitrogen deprivation, measured and simulated values are rather similar with time, suggesting that allocation functions derived under steady-state conditions also hold under non-steady-state conditions.