Agricultural Systems Research Unit Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
 

Title: ROOT ZONE WATER QUALITY MODEL SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS USING MONTE CARLO SIMULATION

Authors
item Ma, Liwang
item Ascough, James
item Ahuja, Lajpat
item Weltz, Mark
item Rojas, Kenneth
item Hanson, Jonathan

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 28, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Performing a sensitivity analysis for a mathematical simulation model is helpful in identifying key model parameters and simulation errors resulting from parameter uncertainty. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) has been evaluated for many years, however, detailed sensitivity analyses of the model to various agricultural management systems and their representative input parameters are lacking. This study presents results o RZWQM output response sensitivity to selected model input parameters. Baseline values for the parameters were measured for an experiment on a manured cornfield in eastern Colorado. Four groups of model input parameters were selected and three model output responses were used to quantify RZWQM sensitivity to selected model input parameters. A modified Monte Carlo sampling method (Latin Hypercube Sampling) was used to obtain parameter sets for model realizations. The model parameter sets were then analyzed separately using linear regression analysis. In general, RZQWM output responses were most sensitive to plant growth input parameters and manure application rates.

Technical Abstract: Performing a sensitivity analysis for a mathematical simulation model is helpful in identifying key model parameters and simulation errors resulting from parameter uncertainty. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) has been evaluated for many years, however, detailed sensitivity analyses of the model to various agricultural management systems and their representative input parameters are lacking. This study presents results o RZWQM output response sensitivity to selected model input parameters. Baseline values for the parameters were measured for an experiment on a manured cornfield in eastern Colorado. Four groups of model input parameters were selected and three model output responses were used to quantify RZWQM sensitivity to selected model input parameters. A modified Monte Carlo sampling method (Latin Hypercube Sampling) was used to obtain parameter sets for model realizations. The model parameter sets were then analyzed separately using linear regression analysis. In general, RZQWM output responses were most sensitive to plant growth input parameters and manure application rates.

   
 
 
Last Modified: 05/19/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House