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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229219
Title: Resource Management Tool for Container Production

Author
item MILLION, JEFF - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item YEAGER, TOM - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item LARSEN, CLAUDIA - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item RITCHIE, JOE - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Albano, Joseph

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Research Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/7/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Crop simulation models help producers make decisions with little investment costs and enhance decisions where directed experimentation is lacking. Decisions from simulations are based on the best science available for the range of inputs encountered in production. Decision support systems that use models to evaluate input variables will be very important in the future as input costs escalate. With these tools, producers will be able to choose BMPs which maximize environmental benefits and minimize input costs.

Technical Abstract: The crop simulator model developed allows the industry to objectively evaluate the effects that management practices can have on plant growth, water usage, and runoff. As such it provides a tool which can help make decisions regarding BMP implementation which are based upon local weather information and grower practices. Currently, the tool is limited to simulating production of a fast-growing shrub in a #1 container. Future research is aimed at expanding its usefulness to species with different growth characteristics and at validating its accuracy for simulating growth in larger containers.