Abstract

Parametric identification of plant growth models formalized as discrete dynamical systems is a challenging problem due to specific data acquisition (system observation is generally done with destructive measurements), non-linear dynamics, model uncertainties and high-dimensional parameter space. In this study, we present a novel idea of modeling plant growth in the framework of non-homogeneous hidden Markov models (Cappé, Moulines, and Rydén 2005), for a certain class of plants with known organogenesis (structural development). Unknown parameters of the models are estimated via a stochastic variant of a generalized EM (Expectation-Maximization) algorithm and approximate confidence intervals are given via parametric bootstrap. The complexity of the model makes both the E-step (expectation step) and the M-step (maximization step) non-explicit. For this reason, the E-step is approximated via a sequential Monte Carlo procedure (sequential importance sampling with resampling) and the M-step is separated into two steps (Conditional-Maximization), where before applying a numerical maximization procedure (quasi-Newton type), a large subset of unknown parameters is updated explicitly conditioned on the other subset. A simulation study and a case-study with real data from the sugar beet are considered and a model comparison is performed based on these data. Appendices are available online.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.