Plant Growth analysis using computer. An auxiliary computational program. II

Abstract

The result of photosynthetic activity by plants is mass gain. Essential mineral elements are immobilized in the plant mass, the main element being carbon. In photosynthesis, this element is linked to one another forming carbon chains and, to link one carbon to another, the plant uses solar energy, making the mass rich in energy. Therefore, quantifying plant mass is interesting to estimate the efficiency of plants in accumulating mass and energy. Mass quantification is done using the growth analysis technique. The objective of this work was to develop a computer program to assist in the plant growth analysis. It consisted of adjusting mathematical equations to data on leaf area, total and leaf dry mass. Once the best equations were found, the instantaneous growth indicators, CGR, RGR, NAR, SLA, LAR, LAD and carbon flux (pn) were estimated from them. The adjusted equations were linear, logistic, quadratic, cubic, quadratic exponential and cubic exponential. The equations that best fit to the data were the quadratic exponential and cubic exponential. The program was developed in the C* language. For comparison purposes, the average physiological indicators of growth were estimated using the classic equations found in the literature.