An experimental validation of NICOLET B3 mathematical model for lettuce growth in the southeast region of Coahuila México by dynamic simulation

An experiment was developed to validate the NICOLET B3 model. This model has two state variables: carbon content in the vacuoles and carbon content in the cell structure. Carbon dioxide, temperature and radiation taken inside a greenhouse were used as inputs to the model; the model gave out fresh and dry matter of lettuce aerial part. The model dynamic simulation was carried out using MatLab Simulink R2009a. A lettuce crop growth was developed under greenhouse conditions in soilless system, with a set of data loggers to record data. Results have shown that the data obtained from experiment are accurately predicted with this model.