Use of dynamic simulation and Forrester diagrams to describe the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under field conditions

Abstract

The use of computational tools to describe some processes of crop growth has evolved in recent decades and remains an area of active research, where more and more applications are incorporated with the integration of a greater number of mathematical tools, statistics, and computational calculation efficiency, simplifying the tasks of modeling and visualizing the components of the system used. Current research proposes a dynamic growth model for lettuce cultivation using Forrester diagrams to evaluate different scenarios involving five growth functions and five lettuce cultivars in field conditions of the Bailadores region (Venezuelan Andes, 2550 m a.s.l.). The lettuce variety Coastal Star achieved the greatest accumulation of dry matter used as a response in each model. The logistics of growth function was properly adjusted to the experimental data compared to the other models. The proposed diagram model can be used as a basis for the construction of more complex models that incorporate other physiological variables of the crop and the growth environment.