Contents

Preface

Part I: Background

1 What is a Crop Model?

Sugarcane Growth Model

Terms Used to Describe Models

Variables in Models

Classification of Mathematical Models

Models Are Not Reality!

Exercise

2 Fundamental Guides in Constructing Crop Models

Definition of Objectives

Itemize Critical Assumptions

Quantitative Description of Hypotheses

Programming

Estimating Parameters

Model Evaluation

Exercise

3 Evaluation of Model to Meet Objectives

Transparency

Robustness

Direct Evaluation of Robustness

Exercise

4 Applications of Crop Models

Research Applications

Crop Management Applications

Educational Applications

Exercise

5 Status of Crop Modeling

Infancy

Juvenility

Adolescence

Maturity

The Future of Crop Modeling

Exercise

Part II: Potential Production Models

6 Phenology – Temperature

Background

Basics

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Additional Notes

Exercises

7 Phenology – Temperature and Photoperiod

Background

Basics

Photoperiod Function

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Exercises

8 Phenology – Vernalization

Vernalization Model

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Exercises

9 Crop Leaf Area

Background

Leaf Area Submodel

Crop LAI

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Additional Notes

Exercises

10 Dry Matter Production

Background

Functions

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Exercises

11 Dry Matter Distribution and Yield Formation

Background

Model

Parameter Estimation

Programming

Additional Notes

Exercises

12 A Model for Potential Production

Model Structure

Structure of Excel File Containing the Model

Estimating Daily Solar Radiation

Sample Runs of the Model

Exercises

Part III: Water-limited Models

13 Soil Water

Soil as a Reservoir for Water

Measuring Soil Water Limits

Estimating Soil Water Limits

Soil Water Limits from Databases

Exercises

14 Soil Water Balance

Soil Water Balance Concept

Water Inputs

Water Removals

Required Parameters and Inputs

Programming

Additional Notes

Exercises

15 Plant Responses to Soil Water Deficit and Excess

Defining Crop Stress Level

Dry-down Experiments

Modeling Effects of Water Deficit

Flooding Effects

Crop Termination Due to Water-deficit Stress

Exercise

16 A Model for Water-limited Conditions

Model Structure

Structure of Excel File Containing the Model

Sample Runs of the Model

Exercises

Part IV: Nitrogen-limited Models

17 Plant Nitrogen Budget

N and Crop Production

Background and Basics of Plant N Budget

Plant N Budget During Vegetative Growth

Plant N Budget During Seed Growth

Plant N Budget in Legumes

Parameterization

Programming

Exercises

18 Soil Nitrogen Balance

Soil N Balance

Available N in Soil Solution

N Inputs

N Losses

Required Inputs

Programming

Exercises

19 A Model for Nitrogen-limited Conditions

Model Structure

Structure of Excel File Containing the Model

Sample Runs of the Model

Exercises

Appendices

Appendix I: A Practical Guide for Model Troubleshooting

Appendix II: Tables for Converting Date to Day of Year (DOY)

Appendix III: List of Variables and Their Definitions

References

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y