Introduction to R, GitHub, and BioCro
This session will provide participants with a hands-on introduction to R programming, version control using GitHub, and the BioCro crop modeling platform. The focus will be on understanding the design philosophy of BioCro and familiarizing participants with its modular structure.
The session will also highlight the versatility of BioCro in supporting a wide range of studies—from simulating photosynthetic responses at the leaf level, to modeling whole-plant growth, and even scaling up to regional or national agricultural systems to assess the impact of environmental changes on crop productivity.
Introduction to C3 and C4 Photosynthesis
This session will introduce the fundamentals of C3 and C4 photosynthesis, focusing on their physiological differences, environmental relevance, and how they can be experimentally measured. Participants will learn how to interpret these measurements to gain insights into leaf-level photosynthetic performance.
The session will also provide an overview of relevant BioCro modules and other R packages that can be used in conjunction with experimental data and theoretical understanding. These tools enable the estimation of key biochemical parameters, supporting a more comprehensive analysis of photosynthetic processes.
Light Interception by Plant Canopies
This session will introduce key concepts related to light interception in plant canopies, including leaf area index (LAI), leaf angle distributions, and commonly used models for simulating canopy light environments.
Participants will learn about methods for measuring light interception in the field and explore relevant BioCro modules used to model light distribution within plant canopies. The session will also demonstrate how these models can be applied to infer canopy architecture, offering insights into how plant structure influences light capture and, ultimately, photosynthetic efficiency.
Whole-Plant Growth Simulation
This session will focus on the importance of phenology and biomass partitioning in modeling whole-plant growth. Participants will learn how these processes are integrated with other modules in BioCro to enable dynamic vegetation growth simulations across developmental stages and environmental conditions.
The session will also cover the existing methods implemented in BioCro for simulating plant growth, including fixed-ratio partitioning, developmental-stage-based allocation, and environmentally responsive partitioning strategies. Additionally, it will provide a platform for discussing potential future improvements, such as integrating feedback from resource availability or stress responses, to enhance the realism and predictive power of the model.