Crop simulation model

A Crop Simulation Model (CSM,SENMAP) is a simulation model that helps estimate crop yield as a function of weather conditions, soil conditions, and choice of crop management practices.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Types of crop simulation models

Crop simulation models have been classified into three broad categories:^[6][7]

1. Statistical models: These typically rely on yield information for large areas (such as counties), and identify broad trends. The two main trends identified are a secular trend of a gradual increase in crop yield, and variation based on weather conditions. Statistical models are a significant improvement over naive historical predictions, but are not preferred for very fine-grained predictions.
2. Mechanistic models: These attempt to use fundamental mechanisms of plant and soil processes to simulate specific outcomes. These involve fairly detailed and computation-intensive simulations. These models use a continuous evolution and simulating them previously requires a small time step.
3. Functional models: These use simplified closed functional forms to simulate complex processes. They are computationally easier than mechanistic models, and can often give results that are of only somewhat worse accuracy. The Penman equation is an example of an equation that might be used as a component of a functional model. Functional models are typically run using a daily time step and the data is updated daily.^[6]

Commonly used crop simulation models

• CropSyst, a multi-year multi-crop daily time-step crop simulation model developed by a team at Washington State University's Department of Biological Systems Engineering.^[3]
• APSIM, the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator is a highly advanced simulator of agricultural systems. APSIM was created by CSIRO, the State of Queensland (through its Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry) and The University of Queensland in Australia.^[8]

See also

• The Climate Corporation
• Crop yield
• Numerical weather prediction
• Weather forecasting
• General Circulation Model

References