A model for evaluating lamb production systems

A mathematical model for evaluating and comparing lamb production systems is constructed. The model is designed for a microcomputer for use by the Meat and Livestock Commission in its consultancy work.     

A model for optimal allocation of canal water based on crop production functions

A model for optimal distribution of water in the canal command areas has been developed. Water production functions in the form of polynomial expressions were developed from existing experimental information. Using the production functions, water distribution is indicated in order to obtain maximum returns. It has been shown that higher returns can be obtained from canal command areas by a suitable modification of the existing water release pattern at the outlet.     

Simulation model for dryland crop production in the canadian prairies

Modern commercial agriculture is characterised by rapid technological change. These new technologies complicate decision-making for farm managers. Effective decision-making in this environment requires a systematic means of evaluation—one that attempts to evaluate the consequences of various management and production choices before resources are committed. The systems model described in this paper is considered to be an important step in this direction. The model provides a means for testing new production alternatives for cereal and oilseed crops in western Canada without actual farm application and thus of eliminating some of the trial and error associated with conventional decision-making methods. It does not replace the farm manager as the decision maker but it does provide information to facilitate his management function.     

Assessment and management of poor quality waters for crop production: A simulation model (SWAM)

A simulation model has been prepared for assessing water quality to judge its suitability for irrigation. When water is classified as poor quality water (saline/sodic/saline-sodic) utilizing standard norms for Indian agro-climatic conditions, the model determines the potential of the water for direct application. Further, it also evaluates management strategies based on conjunctive use of fresh and saline waters. For this purpose, the model requires water quality data, crop data, soil data and rules established in the expert system rule-base. Data are compiled in data files which can be updated. For conjunctive use of saline and fresh waters, an irrigation scheduling sub-model has been modified to include a soil salinization-desalinization module based on layer-wise equilibrium theory. The module was independently tested using field data. The model SWAM has been successfully tested using data from a number of field experiments. Sodic waters of 16.2 meq l⁻¹ residual sodium carbonate would require 2.73 t ha⁻¹ of gypsum for each 20 cm of water applied to the soil. Field observations usually attest to this requirement. Likewise, saline water of 16 dS m⁻¹, when applied to a wheat crop in conjunction with fresh water of 0.5 dS m⁻¹, would yield optimally in case two saline water irrigations are followed by one fresh water irrigation in a normal rainfall year with an initial soil salinity of 2.98 dS m⁻¹. Some more useful data sets are analyzed and compared with results from field experiments. In our opinion, the model which is based upon recent guidelines can be applied to the classification of waters and their management. The minor changes necessary to apply the model to other conditions can be easily carried out.     

Optimal spacing and cultivation intensity for an industrialized crop production system

The overall design of an industrial crop production system should optimize the system's global parameters, such as total area required, intensity of cultivation and general production schedule. The key element is the optimal intensity of cultivation for the prevailing climatic and economic environments. A single-state-variable vegetative crop model (e.g. lettuce) was used to optimize a crop production system for two economic environments: quota- and area-limited production. A strictly uniform weather (every hour of the season) was assumed initially. Continuous spacing was a central control element. The main conclusions of the analysis with our model are: (1) plants of all ages can grow together in a single climatic compartment; (2) spacing should be scheduled to maintain a constant canopy density; (3) optimal canopy density is an increasing function of available light and a decreasing function of temperature; (4) where produce-price is high relative to the prices of rent and energy, the optimal cultivation intensity for an area-limited operation is higher than for a quota-limited operation; the opposite is true where rent is expensive; and (5) the marginal price to be paid for supplementary light is smaller where available natural light is more plentiful.     

A model for assessing crop response to salinity

CropSyst, a management-oriented crop growth model, was modified to assess crop response to salinity. The effect of salinity was included in the existing water uptake module by adding an osmotic component to the soil water potential and developing a function to account for salinity effects on root permeability. The effect of salinity on water uptake is the link to simulate crop growth reduction. A qualitative analysis showed that the model simulated expected trends of crop response to salinity as affected by cultivar tolerance, atmospheric vapor pressure deficit, and soil water availability. Comparisons with data from sprinkler line experiments were performed for barley grown at Zaragoza (Spain) in 1986 and 1989, and corn at Davis, Calif. and Fort Collins, Colo. in 1975. These experiments included different salinity and irrigation levels. At Davis, the model simulated well the effect of salinity/irrigation treatments on water use, biomass, and crop yield, with values for the Willmot index of agreement (d) generally better than 0.94 (a value of 1.0 implying perfect agreement). At Fort Collins, simulation of grain yield was less satisfactory (d fluctuated between 0.83 and 0.90), but the agreement was good for crop water use and biomass (d generally better than 0.96). The lower performance for grain yield was attributed to large and erratic variations in the observed harvest index. The agreement between simulated and observed values tended to be lower at Zaragoza, with d values fluctuating between 0.84 and 0.91 for biomass and yield in the 2 years included in this evaluation. Unusually high measured yields in 1989 and erratic variation in 1986 were attributed to small sample size. The small size (increased measurement error) of samples typically obtained in sprinkler line source experiments tends to limit their use for evaluation of simulation models.     

Analysis of soil-water uptake from a drying loess soil by an oat crop using a simulation model

Summary A simulation model of water uptake by a crop was developed to facilitate synthesis of field and laboratory observations with existing knowledge, and to analyze and predict affects of management practices, such as tillage, on water uptake from a drying soil. Radial water flow resistance in soil Rs was estimated by the single root flow model. Leaf stomata closure was represented by an observed minimal leaf water potential. Flow resistances, per unit root length Rr and in the plant Rp, were assumed to be constant and were evaluated together with an effective root length factor Frl, in the course of simulating a ten week period of observed soil water depletion by a crop of oats. Rr, Rp, and Frl were found to have similar values to those reported in the literature. Potential transpiration and evaporation and their ratio were estimated by the methods of Van Bavel (1966) and Denmead (1973). Evaporation reduction due to soil drying was estimated empirically.Cessation of soil water depletion (attainment of a permanent wilting soil water content) in the 0 – 20 cm soil layer, during the last ten-day period, was explained to be the net result of soil water extraction by the roots and backflow of water from the roots into the soil. Simulated onset of crop stress (closure of stomata) was found to be characterized by: (a) a steady decrease in average soil water potential, at a rate of about 500 cm-water per cm-soil water depletion; (b) a tenfold increase in the average soil resistance to radial flow, to about the same magnitude as average radial flow resistance in the roots; and (c) soil water diffusivities in the 0 – 50 cm layer being about 6 cm²/day. Sensitivity analyses showed that the ratio of actual to potential cumulative transpiration RCT depended primarily on potential evapotranspiration, rainfall, the unsaturated-to-saturated hydraulic conductivity exponent and plant cover. RCT was affected similarly by changes in Rr and in Rs. Under the conditions tested, zero tillage may increase RCT significantly only if it increases deep rooting beyond the 50 cm depth.Joint contribution from the Georg-August University, Göttingen, FRG, and the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, A.R.O. No. 207-E, 1980 Series     

Evapotranspiration components and dual crop coefficients of coffee trees during crop production

Quantifying crop water consumption is essential for many applications in agriculture, such as crop zoning, yield forecast and irrigation management. The objective of this study was to determine evaporation (E), transpiration (T) and dual crop coefficients (Ke and Kcb) of coffee trees during crop production (3rd and 4th year of cultivation), conducted under sprinkler and drip irrigation and no irrigation, in Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. Crop evapotranspiration (ET) was measured by weighing lysimeters cultivated with plants of cultivar IAPAR 59, E was measured by microlysimeters installed on the lysimeters and T was obtained by the difference between ET and E. The crop coefficient (Kc) was determined for the irrigated treatments as the ratio between ET and the reference evapotranspiration (ETo). Similarly, evaporation coefficient (Ke) and basal crop coefficient (Kcb) were determined as the ratio of E and T, respectively, to the value of ETo, which was estimated by the ASCE Penman-Monteith method on an hourly basis. The values of E and Ke varied due to atmospheric demand and water application method. Those factors, in addition to crop phenology and leaf area evolution, also influenced T and Kcb. Regardless irrigation treatment, the measured values of E represented 35% of ET, while T was 65% of ET. The recommended values of Ke were 0.46 and 0.26 for sprinkler and drip irrigation, respectively. The recommended values of Kcb were 0.52 and 0.82 for sprinkler-irrigated, and 0.5 and 0.65 for drip-irrigated treatments, varying as a function of daily ETo (ETo ≥ or <3 mm day⁻¹, respectively).     

Determination of evapotranspiration from an alfalfa crop irrigated with saline waste water from an electrical power plant

Summary Investigations were carried out in 1989 to determine the evapotranspiration (ET) of alfalfa when irrigated with saline waste water coming from the evaporation of fresh water in the cooling towers of Utah Power and Light Company Electrical Power Plant at Huntington in central Utah, U.S.A. The primary goal is to dispose of the waste water from the power plant by irrigation and to maximize salt deposition in the soil, maximize crop ET, minimize runoff from the soil surface, and minimize leaching to the ground water. Using the Bowen ratio-energy balance method, alfalfa evapotranspiration was measured at an experimental site for each 20-minute period during the 1989 irrigation season. Using a simplified seasonal water balance, the results showed that cumulative irrigation plus rain was less than evapotranspiration for the 1989 irrigation season. This means that for the long term in addition to irrigation and precipitation some water was withdrawn from the soil for alfalfa crop water requirements (ET_a). Short term evaluations showed that because of unforeseen heavy rain (thunder showers) in this mountainous area between irrigations, ET_a was occasionally less than irrigation plus rain. This means the excess water was stored in the soil for later use. The average value for ET_a/ET_p (potential ET) for the 1989 irrigation season was 0.47 but occasionally the ratio was greater than unity. Short-term studies (Hanks et al. 1990 a) indicate that yield and ET_a are likely to decrease only slightly for the coming years if saline irrigation water is applied. This method of investigation can be applied to any industrial processes which produce waste water.     

Water management and crop production for food security in China: A review

Food security is a high priority issue on the Chinese political agenda. China’s food security is challenged by several anthropogenic, sociopolitical and policy factors, including: population growth; urbanization and industrialization; land use changes and water scarcity; income growth and nutritional transition; and turbulence in global energy and food markets. Sustained growth in agricultural productivity and stable relations with global food suppliers are the twin anchors of food security. Shortfalls in domestic food production can take their toll on international food markets. Turbulence in global energy markets can affect food prices and supply costs, affecting food security and poverty. Policy safeguards are needed to shield food supply against such forces. China must make unremitting policy responses to address the loss of its fertile land for true progress towards the goal of national food security, by investing in infrastructure such as irrigation, drainage, storage, transport, and agricultural research and institutional reforms such as tenure security and land market liberalization. The links between water and other development-related sectors such as population, energy, food, and environment, and the interactions among them require reckoning, as they together will determine future food security and poverty reduction in China. Climate change is creating a new level of uncertainty in water governance, requiring accelerated research to avoid water-related stresses.     

Sensitivity analysis of FAO 33 crop water production function

This paper presents the results of sensitivity analysis of FAO 33 method and its modified forms that were developed by Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988). Results show that positive error of PET and K_y and negative error of AET result in over predicting of relative yield (Y_r). Sensitivity of Doorenbos and Kassam (FAO irrigation and drainage paper No. 33. FAO, Rome, Italy, 193 pp, 1979) equation (FAO 33 method) and additive form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation is equal for positive or negative error of K_y and AET, but their sensitivities are greater for negative error of PET than positive error. However, sensitivity of multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation is greater for negative error of K_y and PET and positive error of AET. Error percentage on estimation of Y_r by multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation arising from error of PET, AET, or K_y is less than additive form. In addition, calculated Y_r by multiplicative equation is higher than additive form and the difference between two forms of this equation increases severely when water shortage increases. According to the results, it is recommended that multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation instead of additive form be used in optimization models and deficit irrigation planning.     

Analysing crop yield and plant quality in an intercropping system using an eco-physiological model for interplant competition

An eco-physiological model was used to improve understanding of interplant competition based on physiological, morphological and phenological processes. The model was parameterised based on characteristics of the plants in monocultures and its performance was evaluated for the crop mixtures using experimental data from different growing seasons. A light interception routine accounting for row-geometry was compared to a routine assuming a homogeneous horizontal leaf area distribution. The models simulated the light distribution among the species equally well. The production of the two crops in the mixture was accurately simulated using parameter values based on monoculture growth characteristics. Morphological characteristics of the species such as the relative growth rate of leaf area during early growth and specific leaf area largely determined the competitive strength of the species. Dry matter production of the species, particularly if grown in mixture, was highly sensitive to maximum plant height and radiation use efficiency. Celery was found to be a stronger competitor than leek and clear responses of quality characteristics to plant density in monoculture and mixtures were observed. The model was used to determine ranges of plant densities that enable the intercropping system to meet current quality standards of the component crops.     

WaLIS—A simple model to simulate water partitioning in a crop association: The example of an intercropped vineyard

The introduction of cover crops in vineyards is being tested as it mitigates some undesirable environmental impacts of these cropping systems, such as surface runoff and soil erosion. In some cases, it could even reduce an excessive vegetative vigour of grapevine. However, most of time, wine growers are worried that severe competition for soil resources between the intercrop and grapevines could impair grape yield and quality. WaLIS (Water baLance for Intercropped Systems), a simple model simulating the water resource partitioning in such an association was designed to evaluate and optimize the water regime in intercropped systems.The model is presented and evaluated in this paper in three situations: the same grapevine cultivar (cv. Aranel) with either bare soil, or a temporary intercrop (barley) or a permanent intercrop (tall fescue). All three situations are located in the south of France. It is based on an existing model, designed to simulate the water regime of a bare soil vineyard, which was adapted to take into account the specific features of intercropped systems. Hence it includes a two-compartment representation of the soil particularly adapted to row crops. The simulation of a grass cover growth and its transpiration were added. Finally, particular importance was dedicated to the simulation of surface runoff which was the main source of the original model deviation during the winter period and made difficult multi-year simulations. Now, the model appears to be able to evaluate perennial cropping systems and provide decision support.The WaLIS model simulated the water available for both grapevine and intercrop well, and it proved to be efficient in most of the tested situations and years. The modelling of the water stress experienced by both crops was also generally good and all water fluxes simulated by the model were realistic. The main observed deviation in the simulation of the water soil content occurred during winter, i.e. outside the grapevine growth period. It was very likely due to the use of a constant parameter value for the surface runoff which did not take into account of changes in the soil surface and their effects on water infiltration.Finally, the analysis of sensitivity made on the WaLIS model showed that it is robust and sensitive to a few parameters, which drive the maximal grapevine transpiration and soil evaporation or are linked to the surface runoff simulation. The work also revealed how a good estimate of the total soil water available for each crop is crucial. This model, easy to use and parameterise, can provide sound management advice for designing valuable intercropped cropping systems.     

Leaching of nutrients from a sugarcane crop growing on an Ultisol in Brazil

Leaching is disadvantageous, both for economical and environmental reasons since it may decrease the ecosystem productivity and may also contribute to the contamination of surface and ground water. The objective of this paper was to quantify the loss of nitrogen and sulfur by leaching, at the depth of 0.9 m, in an Ultisol in São Paulo State (Brazil) with high permeability, cultivated with sugarcane during the agricultural cycle of crop plant. The following ions were evaluated: nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphate were also evaluated at the same depth. The sugarcane was planted and fertilized in the furrows with 120 kg ha⁻¹ of N-urea. In order to find out the fate of N-fertilizer, four microplots with ¹⁵N-enriched fertilizer were installed. Input and output of the considered ions at the depth of 0.9 m were quantified from the flux density of water and the concentration of the elements in the soil solution at this soil depth: tensiometers, soil water retention curve and soil solution extractors were used for this quantification. The internal drainage was 205 mm of water, with a total loss of 18 kg ha⁻¹ of N and 10 kg ha⁻¹ of S. The percentage of N in the soil solution derived from the fertilizer (%NSSDF) was 1.34, resulting in only 25 g ha⁻¹ of N fertilizer loss by leaching during all agricultural cycle. Under the experimental conditions of this crop plant, that is, high demand of nutrients and high incorporation of crop residues, the leached N represented 15% of applied N and S leaching were not considerable; the higher amount of leached N was native nitrogen and a minor quantity from N fertilizer; and the leached amount of Ca, Mg, K and P did not exceed the applications performed in the crop by lime and fertilization.     

A timothy-beef production model for Atlantic Canada

A five-part timothy-beef deterministic simulation model was prepared to integrate information on various production processes and hence to improve the basis for management advice given by extension workers.The five parts or sub-models are: the growth of the timothy, harvesting the crop, storing it, converting the timothy and other feeds to beef and, lastly, the feeding of cattle and the disposal of manure. Costs and returns are estimated.The model structure and principal biological relationships are described in some detail. Sample outputs for three different cow-calf-feeder regimes are shown and compared.The uses, limitations and potential of the model are discussed.     

A model for sericulture and milk production

With a view to increasing the annual output of edible nutrients (milk), employment generation and obtaining better economic returns per unit area under sericulture, a model was designed through the application of the integrated systems approach. By the application of this model, it is possible to produce 23·23 GJ edible energy and 266·33 kg edible protein from milk; 2975 man-days employment and Rs.30·11 profit per man-day labour input from 1 ha in a year. In contrast, the traditional system of rice cultivation in Southern India, with double cropping intensity, could generate 50·67 GJ energy and 244·00 kg protein from food grains, 288 man-days employment and only Rs.8·34 profit per man-day labour input from 1 ha in a year.     

Optimization model of an irrigation reservoir for water allocation and crop planning under various weather conditions

This paper develops a non-linear programming optimization model with an integrated soil water balance, to determine the optimal reservoir release policies, the irrigation allocation to multiple crops and the optimal cropping pattern in irrigated agriculture. Decision variables are the cultivated area and the water allocated to each crop. The objective function of the model maximizes the total farm income, which is based on crop–water production functions, production cost and crop prices. The proposed model is solved using the simulated annealing (SA) global optimization stochastic search algorithm in combination with the stochastic gradient descent algorithm. The rainfall, evapotranspiration and inflow are considered to be stochastic and the model is run for expected values of the above parameters corresponding to different probability of exceedence. By combining various probability levels of rainfall, evapotranspiration and inflow, four weather conditions are distinguished. The model takes into account an irrigation time interval in each growth stage and gives the optimal distribution of area, the water to each crop and the total farm income. The outputs of this model were compared with the results obtained from the model in which the only decision variables are cultivated areas. The model was applied on data from a planned reservoir on the Havrias River in Northern Greece, is sufficiently general and has great potential to be applicable as a decision support tool for cropping patterns of an irrigated area and irrigation scheduling.     

基于田间实际耗水的作物生产水足迹

为了衡量田间尺度粮食生产对资源的真实利用,基于水足迹及作物耗水理论,提出基于作物实际耗水的农作物生产水足迹计算方法,并以陕西关中的小麦、玉米为研究对象,对1998,2005及2010年的生产水足迹进行了计算.结果显示：同一年份同一作物不同地区间耗水量具有较大差异,同时,关中地区3个代表年份平均小麦、玉米耗水量分别比需水量小16.2%和12.4%;小麦、玉米生产水足迹有减小趋势,代表年平均值分别为0.96,0.77 m^3/kg;各地区小麦虚拟水中蓝水比例在10%-40%,玉米则在20%-50%范围内变化,且年际、地区间的蓝水占有比例均无明显变化趋势;3个代表年小麦、玉米的总水足迹之和分别为70.1,59.8及60.7亿m3,均大于当地的水资源总量,其中蓝水所占比例均值为29.1%.基于作物实际耗水的作物生产水足迹的计算对基于水足迹和虚拟水贸易的科学研究及政策制定均有重要意义.     

基于NARX模型的参考作物蒸散发预测

为了实现气象资料缺失情况下参考作物蒸散量(ET0)精确计算和预测,以攀枝花站点为例,构建非线性自回归滤波器(NARX)模型预测ET0.以Penman-Monteith模型计算的ET0作为预测标准,将日最高温、日最低温、日照时数、风速和相对湿度作为模型的输入参数,建立11种不同气象因子组合的NARX模型,并与Hargre...