# Section 5: Land Cover/Plant

<figure><img src="/files/LTRfggQRj3jhEyP0pXYC" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The plant growth component of SWAT+ is a simplified version of the EPIC plant growth model. As in EPIC, phenological plant development is based on daily accumulated heat units, potential biomass is based on a method developed by Monteith, a harvest index is used to calculate yield, and plant growth can be inhibited by temperature, water, nitrogen, or phosphorus stress. <mark style="background-color:red;">Portions of the EPIC plant growth model that were not incorporated into SWAT+ include detailed root growth, micronutrient cycling and toxicity responses, and the simultaneous growth of multiple plant species in the same HRU.</mark>


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