Potato production model based on principle of maximum plant productivity

The principle of maximum plant productivity and the concept of reference yields are presented. According to this principle, such adaptation processes take place in plant communities which are directed towards providing the maximum plant productivity possible under the existing environmental conditions. Proceeding from this principle, the maximum production and yields are observed under different limiting factors divided into agroecological groups, which are introduced into the model step by step starting from optimal conditions for the plant community. This results in the following hypothetical reference or model yields: potential, meteorologically possible, practically possible and commercial yield. Potato production process model POMOD, based on this concept, allows presently the calculation of potential and meteorologically possible yields. The applications of the model are referred to. The overview on modelling the crop yield formation published in Russian is given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.