Computational Analysis of Corn Plant Growth, Growth Rate, and Acceleration Over Time

Abstract

The above work provides a computer-based analysis of young corn plant development based on a time-dependent quadratic model, illustrating plant height, rate of growth, and acceleration of growth after appearance. The purpose of this study, as it is related to maize, is to demonstrate how simple models can be used in explaining the biological development process in an easy and educational way. The plant height measurements were performed in standard conditions three times after emergence in-order-to develop a quadratic model based on time elapsed after emergence as the independent variable. Plant height was determined under optimal conditions three times after germination to establish a quadratic function for plant growth with time since germination as the independent variable. Plant height was determined using this function, and acceleration and rate of growth were determined using its first and second derivatives, respectively. Findings showed that the initial growth of corn in plants follows a predictable function where plant height and rate of growth increased with time, while acceleration remained constant. Since the calculated values precisely corresponded to the actual values for the time points observed, model validation was achieved for the short observation period. Through forecasting the future growth rate of plant height over time, another piece of evidence of the potential of the quadratic function for short-term growth rate forecast can thus be noted, despite its failure to include variables such as soil or water nutrient content. Its findings have indicated the potential of time computation modeling for the analysis of the early growth rate of plants. This paper has shown how calculus models and basic mathematical techniques can be employed for the analysis of the growth rate of plants.