Modeling Leaf Length Growth and Leaf Shape in Winter Wheat

Abstract

A set of empirical equations for calculating the evolution of leaf length through thermal time taking into account leaf position in wheat plants and the nitrogen status of the leaf is presented. A set of equation describing the variation of lamina width along its length thus describing an important feature of leaf shape is also given. The descriptive model is calibrated and validated in field experiments with different nitrogen rates and winter wheat cultivars in two growing seasons. The model had a good performance in predicting leaf length growth, and should be useful for taking into account leaf length and leaf shape in models of wheat growth.