Plant and Crop Modeling: A Mathematical Approach to Plant and Crop Physiology

This book is a textbook (it includes, for example, exercises and outline solutions). The plant scientist is shown how to express his physiological ideas mathematically and how to deduce quantitative conclusions, which can then be compared with experiment. There is little new biology in the book, but it is presented in a way which will be new to many biologists. The matching of models to experiments means using mathematics for formulating biological concepts and second, using algebra, calculus, or, now more frequently, computers to solve or simulate the resulting model; and finally, comparing, qualitatively or quantitatively, prediction to measurement. Computers are the important enabling technology which makes it all possible: solving equations, assembling models of increasing sophistication and complexity, and comparing theory with experiment.

The book is divided into three parts.

Part I. Covers subjects of wide relevance to modelling and plant biology.

Part II. The reader may choose to select topics of particular interest from part II. However, the whole-plant modeller will need to study all chapters, and the plant ecosystem modeller may need to add other material also.

Part III. Plant morphology is at an introductory level. It is included because morphological characters may prove to be of equal importance to some physiological traits in determining plant function and performance.