Estimating Seasonal Nitrogen Removal and Biomass Yield by Annuals with the Extended Logistic Model

The Extended Logistic Model (ELM) has been previously shown to adequately describe seasonal biomass production and N removal with respect to applied N for several types of annuals and perennials. In this analysis, data from a corn (Zea mays L.) study with variable applied N were analyzed to test hypotheses that certain parameters in the ELM are invariant with respect to site specific attributes, like environmental conditions and soil type. Invariance to environmental conditions suggests such parameters may be functions of the crop characteristics and certain other management practices alone (like plant population, planting date, harvest date). The first parameter analyzed was Δb, the difference between the N uptake shifting parameter and the biomass shifting parameter. The second parameter tested was N_cm, the maximum N concentration. Both parameters were shown to be statistically invariant, despite soil and site differences. This was determined using analysis of variance with normalized nonlinear regression of the ELM on the data from the study. This analysis lends further evidence that there are common parameters involved in the ELM that do not rely on site-specific or situation-specific factors. More insight into the derivation of, definition of, and logic behind the various parameters involved in the model are also given in this paper.