Dynamic mathematical model development and validation of in vitro Mycobacterium smegmatis growth under nutrient- and pH-stress

•Environmentally stressed M. smegmatis growth is rigorously investigated and modelled.•The effect of carbon, nitrogen, and pH stress is determined experimentally.•A mechanistic model accurately predicts bacterial growth under environmental stress.•The model explicitly captures pH variation and growth decoupled nitrogen uptake.•The model is analyzed in terms of parameter identifiability and critically evaluated.