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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Docs » Models » crop simulation models

What Are Crop Simulation Models?
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Agricultural production managers, natural resource managers, and strategic decision makers require accurate, timely, and cost-effective information to maintain a quality food and fiber supply for the nation and the world. The Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory conducts research to develop crop simulators for predicting growth, development, and yield of agricultural crops exploring Genotype, Environment and Management (G x E x M) interactions.

 

Graphic displays different phases of plant growth:  emergence, tillering, stem elongation, heading/flowering and ripening. It lists model inputs (Meteorological Variables, Soil Properties, Cultivar Parameters and Management); model processes (Phenological Development, Light Interception and Utilization, Growth Allocation to Crop Organs, Root Distribution, Soil Water & Nutrients Dynamics, Evapotranspiration, Environmental Stresses and Effects of Elevated CO2), and key model outputs (Crop Yield and Soil Properties).

Why Are Our Models Unique?

How did we develop our models?

Models are developed by a team of scientists and engineers with expertise in crop physiology, soil science, meteorology, and computer science. The process involves:

pictures of wheat and corn in growth chambers

Experiments

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graphs of plant responses to environmental variables

Develop Mathematical Functions

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graphic showing how components are assembled into a simulation model

Integrate the functions – develop crop model

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Dialog page from the Classim Model Interface

Incorporate into a graphical user interface