Abstract
A model was developed to simulate the growth of individual wheat plants within a field community. Based on hourly observations of irradiance and temperature, one portion of the model (PHOTO) computes the daily photosynthesis, maintenance respiration, and appearance of new shoots for a plant assuming no interference by neighboring plants. The remaining portion of the model (COMPSIM) reduces the daily growth of the modeled plant using a factor determined from the size and spacing of members of the stand. Following development, the model was verified against actual plant growth observed in a field study involving three population densities and two spatial arrangements of wheat plants. A second field study, involving wheat plants spaced irregularly in rows, was used to determine the accuracy of model estimates of plant growth. The model was found to simulate the effects of competition on plant growth in a reasonable manner.
Maas, Stephan Joseph (1985). Modeling the competitive environment of field crops. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -445305.