groeiperiod

Groeiperiod is a term used especially in Dutch-language science to denote the interval during which an organism, tissue or organ increases in size. In biology, the growth period encompasses the interval from the beginning of growth (such as germination or birth) until the organism reaches its mature size or reproductive capability. During this period, growth is governed by genetics and environmental factors including nutrition, temperature, photoperiod, and social conditions. Growth rate is not constant; it often changes through successive growth phases and may slow as maturity is approached.

In plants, the growth period describes the time when the plant increases biomass, typically separated into vegetative growth and reproductive growth. The duration of the growth period is influenced by climate, soil conditions, water availability, and cultivar. Agricultural practice often uses growing degree days or phenological calendars to estimate progress through the growth period and to time management actions such as planting, pruning, irrigation, and harvest.

In animal production, the growth period refers to the postnatal development until market weight or sexual maturity is reached. Understanding the growth period supports breeding decisions, feeding strategies, and welfare planning.

Groeiperiod is a broad, cross-disciplinary concept that helps describe when and how organisms increase in size, how fast they do so, and when growth ends. It is distinct from lifespan, which is the total duration of life, and from aging, which concerns later stages of decline.