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Title: DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF THE RZWQM-CERES-MAIZE HYBRID MODEL FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION

Author
item Ma, Liwang
item HOOGENBOOM, G. - UNIVERISTY OF GA
item Ahuja, Lajpat
item Ascough Ii, James
item SASEENDRAN, S. - USDA-ARS-NPA

Submitted to: Agricultural Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2005
Publication Date: 3/1/2006
Citation: Ma, L., Hoogenboom, G., Ahuja, L.R., Ascough Ii, J.C., Saseendran, S.A. 2006. Evaluation of the rzwqm-ceres-maize hybrid model for maize production. Agricultural Systems. 87(3): 274-295.

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural system models vary widely depending on their original objectives and processes simulated. It is desirable for modelers to use the best available modules to capture the state-of-the-sciences. The objective of this study was to develop and test a hybrid model between RZWQM and the CERES-Maize model, which might serve as a better model for crop production and environmental quality assessment. In the hybrid model, RZWQM provided CERES with daily soil water and nitrogen contents, and potential evapotranspiration, and CERES supplied RZWQM with daily water and nitrogen uptake, leaf area index, and other plant growth variables. The RZWQM-CERES hybrid was evaluated with two well-documented experimental datasets with various nitrogen and irrigation treatments, and the results were compared to the original DSSAT-CERES-Maize model (v3.5). To test the hybrid model, we used the same plant cultivar coefficients as distributed with DSSAT Version 3.5. No overall differences were found between the hybrid model and the DSSAT-CERES model for crop production (e.g., LAI, biomass, yield, and N uptake) based on the F-test and the paired t-test. Further testing of the hybrid model is undergoing to evaluate both crop production and environmental impact of various cropping systems, using soil parameters estimated by RZWQM rather than by DSSAT. Nonetheless, the hybrid model is useful for RZWQM users to simulate detailed plant growth and for DSSAT users to evaluate management and environmental impacts of various cropping systems.

Technical Abstract: Agricultural system models vary widely depending on their original objectives and processes simulated. Some models are more robust in capturing and synthesizing knowledge for certain agricultural system components than others. Therefore, it is desirable for modelers to use the best available modules from existing models to capture the state-of-the-sciences. The objective of this study was to develop and test a hybrid model between RZWQM (Root Zone Water Quality Model) and the CERES-Maize model, which might serve as a better model for crop production and environmental quality assessment. In the hybrid model, RZWQM provided CERES with daily soil water and nitrogen contents, and potential evapotranspiration, and CERES supplied RZWQM with daily water and nitrogen uptake, leaf area index, and other plant growth variables. The RZWQM-CERES hybrid was evaluated with two well-documented experimental datasets distributed with DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) Version 3.5, with various nitrogen and irrigation treatments, and the results were compared to the original DSSAT-CERES-Maize model. Both models used the same plant cultivar coefficients and the same soil parameters as distributed with DSSAT Version 3.5. Although the hybrid model improved predictions of some growth components, no overall differences were found between the hybrid model and the DSSAT-CERES model for crop production (e.g., LAI, biomass, yield, and N uptake) based on the F-test and the paired t-test. Further testing of the hybrid model is undergoing to evaluate both crop production and environmental impact of various cropping systems, using soil parameters estimated by RZWQM rather than by DSSAT. Nonetheless, the hybrid model is useful for RZWQM users to simulate detailed plant growth and for DSSAT users to evaluate management and environmental impacts of various cropping systems.