Model studies focus experimental investigations to improve our understanding and performance of systems. Concentrating on crop modelling, Modeling Physiology of Crop Development, Growth and Yield provides an introduction to the concepts of crop development, growth, and yield, with step-by-step outlines to each topic, suggested exercises and simple equations. A valuable text for students and researchers of crop development alike, Modeling Physiology of Crop Development, Growth and Yield is written in five parts that allow the reader to develop a solid foundation and coverage of production models including water- and nitrogen-limited systems.
Part I: Background
1. What is a crop model?
2. Fundamental Guides in Constructing Crop Models
3. Evaluation of Model to Meet Objectives
4. Applications of Crop Models
5. Status of Crop Modeling
Part II: Potential Production Models
6. Phenology - Temperature
7. Phenology - Temperature & Photoperiod
8. Phenology - Vernalization
9. Crop Leaf Area
10. Dry Matter Production
11. Dry Matter Distribution and Yield Formation
12. A Model for Potential Production
Part III: Water-Limited Models
13. Soil Water
14. Soil Water Balance
15. Plant Responses to Soil Water Deficit and Excess
16. A Model for Water-Limited Conditions
Part IV: Nitrogen-Limited Models
17. Plant Nitrogen Budget
18. Soil Nitrogen Balance
19. A Model for Nitrogen-Limited Conditions
Appendices
Dr. Sinclair is an international leader in Crop Science who has cooperated with researchers world-wide on physiological studies and in developing crop models. He received his BS and MS from Purdue University, his PhD from Cornell University, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Padua, Italy. He is currently on the faculty of North Carolina State University. His research has covered a wide range of physiological studies involving crop modeling including plant development, carbon accumulation, nitrogen fixation and nitrogen accumulation, and descriptions of yield formation. These studies have involved nearly all of the major crops of the world. With more than 40 years of research experience he has been able to synthesize much of the understanding of crop development, growth, and yield into crop models to assess some of society's challenging issues such as maximum crop yields, drought, climate change, and biofuel production.
Dr. Afshin Soltani has a Ph.D. in Crop Physiology and more than 100 peer-reviewed, scientific publications. He has worked at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran for more than 12 years. He serves on several editorial boards (International Journal of Plant Production, Agronomy Journal, and European Journal of Agronomy). His research interests include the development and application of mathematical models of crop development, growth, and yield in order to understand the interactions between the environment and crops and to improve crop production.