Foreword to the book Bridging Among Disciplines by Synthesizing Soil and Plant Processes

Authors: Evett, Steven - Steve; WESTGATE, MARK - Iowa State University; DICK, RICHARD - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Book
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This 8th volume of the ASA-CSSA-SSSA book series, Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling, celebrates the career of Dr. Lajpat Ahuha who founded the series. Editors Wendroth, Lascano and Ma have compiled eleven chapters detailing biophysical system simulation models of varying levels of complexity and various modeling goals. The first three chapters provide an historical perspective on model development, mostly focused on the rise of computer simulation models in the latter half of the 20th Century, concurrent with the development of digital computers. Detailed examples follow the development and testing of a variety of models through to the present. There is an instructive focus on cooperative ecosystem model development between Colorado State University and USDA ARS at Fort Collins highlighting how several models were developed and improved through that team effort. Of note is the emphasis on model testing being integral to model development, and how testing has progressed from single-site, single-model tests to multi-site, regional and even global model development including direct comparison of multiple modeling approaches. Several examples are given, the most recent of which is the Agricultural Model Inter-comparison and Improvement Project (AGMIP). AGMIP has compared simulation results from as many as 27 related models. The authors show how modern computing and storage capacity, coupled with ever increasing field measurement schemes, many of them long-term and international in scope, has greatly increased access to data necessary for both model development and testing.