1. A method of evaluating performance of a plant population in an area of interest, comprising: receiving input data from a user, the input data representative of at least one management parameter in the group consisting of: a total plant population in a selected sampling sub-area, a spacing of an individual plant relative to a nearest adjacent plant in the sampling sub-area, and a maturity of the individual plant relative to the nearest adjacent plant in the sampling sub-area; analyzing the input data on a computer in accordance with a mathematical model having an objective function for predicting a performance of a plant stand represented by a net effective plant population reduced from a benchmark plant population by deduction factors related to at least one of the management parameters; and generating a display indicative of the predicted net effective plant population to the user.