> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://swatplus.gitbook.io/io-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://swatplus.gitbook.io/io-docs/theoretical-documentation/section-6-management-practices/general-management.md). # General Management Management operations that control the plant growth cycle, the timing of fertilizer and pesticide and the removal of plant biomass are explained in this chapter. Water management and the simulation of urban areas are summarized in subsequent chapters. A new operations input file was added that allows user to schedule management by Julian day and calendar year without considering cropping rotations and without using heat unit scheduling. Operations have been added for contouring, terracing, subsurface drains, filter strips, fire, and grass waterways. Previous versions of SWAT+ only allowed the growth of one plant species at a time to be simulated. Algorithms from the ALMANAC model (Kiniry et al., 1992, Johnson et al., 2009) have been added to simulate multiple plant species growing and competing within a plant community. Plant communities that have been simulated include: crops and weeds, trees and grasses, different tree species in a boreal forest, and grasses and shrubs in rangeland communities. A data file is developed prior to simulation that describes the various plants within each community. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://swatplus.gitbook.io/io-docs/theoretical-documentation/section-6-management-practices/general-management.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.