Table 1.

Overview of the calibration and alternative model scenarios and their altered parameters. In the growing season of 2015 only a single field trial was conducted which was used to calibrate the models parameters (calibration). An alternative scenario was simulated where only the branching of the individual plants was (theoretically) inhibited for the same growing year and planting density (branchless). In the growing season of 2016, final plant dimensions and seed yield were measured for a plot with the same planting density (validation) and two alternative planting densities which respectively resulted in plants that did not develop branches (branchless) or developed an additional branch on the second and third phytomer (fullbranch). Dates are given as respective day of the year (DOY)

Simulation year	2015		2016
Simulation reference name	2015_ calibration	2015_ branchless	2016_ validation	2016_ branchless	2016_ fullbranch
Germination	146	146	147	147	147
Generative induction	183	183	184	184	184
End of vegetative development	216	216	217	217	217
Thermal time at full leaf senescence	966	966	1025	1025	1025
Based on experimental conditions	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
Branching on phytomers [rank]	0, 1	-	0, 1	-	0, 1, 2, 3
Row spacing [cm]	25	25	25	15	50
Plant spacing within rows [cm]	25	25	25	6	50