Adaptation of a functional model of grassland to simulate the behaviour of irrigated grasslands under a Mediterranean climate: The Crau case

Adding the three equations for water balance, botanical composition and wind effect improved the goodness-of-fit of the model. A sensitivity analysis showed that the model results were mainly sensitive to the parameter that controls the increase of leaf area index and to the radiation use efficiency coefficient. Both absolute values and dynamics of DM, LAI and FTSW were well simulated and satisfactory for future use of the model in a decision support tool. Estimated MSEP values for DM, LAI and FTSW were 0.145 T ha−1, 0.092 m2 m−2 and 0.0155% respectively.