Functional Crop and Cob Growth Models of Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars

Various mathematical models were fitted to describe total dry matter production (DMP) and cob weight in two maize cultivars viz., Deccan hybrid and Deccan 101. The data on periodical crop growth from an agronomic trial conducted at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, were used to predict crop and cob growth empirically. In cv. Deccan hybrid, Gompertz followed by Richards models predicted DMP by 99 % nearer to the actual values. Whereas in cv. Deccan 101, Richards-cum-logistic for vegetative-cum-reproductive stage simulated DMP with R2 of 92 to 99 %. Further, cob growth was estimated realistically with high R2 of 97 to 98 % using empirical models of logistic followed by Richards in cv. Deccan 101 and Richards followed by Gompertz in cv. Deccan hybrid. Comparing the empirical models in describing DMP and cob growth, the models showing higher predictions in DMP also estimated cob growth meaningfully in both the cultivars, indicating similarity in growth functions.