A general distributed delay time varying life table plant population model: cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth and development as an example

Abstract A new general stochastic, time varying population plant model is reported, and is used specifically to model cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth and development. The model is validated against field data from Londrina, Parana, PR, Brazil. The model reproduced all aspects of the field data accurately including the phenology of crop growth, the pattern and magnitude of fruit dynamics, and dry matter allocation to leaf, stem plus root and fruit for the entire season. In the model all aspects of cotton growth and development are controlled by the ratio of photosynthate supply-demand. Computer experiments were made to examine the effects of temperatures, solar radiation and plant density on crop growth, development and yield.