Modeling growth and yield of groundnut

Crop simulation models have much potential for assisting in agrotechnology transfer, crop management decision-making, climatic assessment, and in the synthesis of research results. For these reasons, it is important to continue to develop and improve models for predicting the growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea). In this paper, we briefly review approaches for modeling growth and yield of groundnut. Then we illustrate major areas of improvement in the PNUTGRO crop growth model after evaluating PNUTGRO Vi.02 versus additional data sets from Florida and India. New areas of improvement include: 1) addition of a hedgerow photosynthesis submodel to improve response to row spacing, sowing density, and growth habit; 2) addition of the Pen mall equation to incorporate vapor pressure deficit and windspeed to estimate evapotranspiration for arid regions; 3) modification oJfunctions for prediction of crop del'elopment; and 4) modification of the effects of stress environments such as high temperature and vapor pressure deficit on partitioning.