Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314806
Title: Parameterization of ALMANAC crop simulation model for non-irrigated dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico

Author
item BAEZ-GONZALEZ, ALMA - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
item Kiniry, James
item RAMIREZ, JOSE - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
item GARCIA, GUILLERMO - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
item GONZALEZ, JOSE - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
item CEJA, ESTEBAN - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)

Submitted to: Interciencia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2015
Publication Date: 3/18/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62020
Citation: Baez-Gonzalez, A.D., Kiniry, J.R., Ramirez, J., Garcia, G.M., Gonzalez, J.L., Ceja, E.S. 2015. Parameterization of ALMANAC crop simulation model for non-irrigated dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico. Interciencia. 40(3):185-189.

Interpretive Summary: Computer models can be used to make management decisions when the parameters describing plant growth are properly derived. This study aimed to parameterize the ALMANAC (Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria) crop simulation model for dry bean in the semi-arid temperate areas of Mexico. We used data from two important non-irrigated dry bean fields in Mexico. The parameters were the heat units from planting to maturity, the amount of leaf area cover, and the fraction of dry weight going into seeds (HI or harvest index). These were derived for both adapted improved cultivars and native cultivars. Model performance with the parameters was evaluated by comparing simulated and measured yields. The model described much of the variability in measured yields. The derived crop parameters for native cultivars and for improved cultivars have potential use for simulating dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico.

Technical Abstract: Simulation models can be used to make management decisions when properly parameterized. This study aimed to parameterize the ALMANAC (Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria) crop simulation model for dry bean in the semi-arid temperate areas of Mexico. The parameterization process was based on data from two important non-irrigated dry bean fields in Mexico. The parameters were potential heat units (PHU), leaf area index (LAI) and harvest index (HI) for both adapted improved cultivars and native cultivars. Model performance with the parameters was evaluated by comparing simulated and measured yields. The model described much of the variability in measured yields; it had an RMSE of 0.26 Mg ha-1. The mean squared deviation (MSD) was 0.11, and the values of its three components were 0.01 for squared bias (SB), 0.10 for lack of correlation weighted by standard deviation (LCS) and 0.001 for squared difference between standard deviations (SDSD). The derived crop parameters for native cultivars (1000 PHU, 0.3 HI and 0.6 LAI) and for improved cultivars (850-900 PHU, 0.46-0.50 HI and 0.7-1.5 for LAI) have potential use for simulating dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico.