Plant growth analysis of discontinuous growth data: A modified Richards function

A method is presented for analyzing growth data of plants with discontinuous relative growth rates resulting from a sudden short-term change in the environment of the plants. This technique provides a quantification of a treatment effect on plant growth where the growth of the control plants can be represented by the Richards function. Growth data from phytotron-grown snap bean plants subjected to episodic ozone exposures are used to illustrate the method. Further applications of the approach are suggested, including the analysis of multiple and single, short-term and long-term episodic events on plant growth. © 1986.

Duke Scholars

Author James F. Reynolds Environmental Sciences and Policy