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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120965
Title: THE RSML SPAR FACILITY: A TOOL FOR CROP MODELING AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH

Author
item Reddy, Vangimalla
item Baker, Jeffrey
item Timlin, Dennis

Submitted to: Proceedings International Global Warming Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2001
Publication Date: 5/1/2001
Citation: Reddy, V., Baker, J.T., Timlin, D.J. 2001. The rsml spar facility: a tool for crop modeling and climate change research [abstract]. Proceedings International Global Warming Conference. p. 67.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: At the heart of mechanistic, process-level, crop simulation models are rate equations that describe the physiological responses of crop plants to environmental variables. In order to develop these rate equations, experiments are conducted under carefully controlled environmental conditions. Outdoor, naturally sunlit, plant growth chambers referred to as SPAR (Soil Plant Atmosphere Research) units provide precise control of the major environmental variables influencing crop growth including temperature, humidity, and atmospheric CO2 concentration. The SPAR units are fully automated to measure crop canopy gas exchange including photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and water use efficiency. Global climate change may result in increases in air temperature and shifts in precipitation patterns as well as increases in atmospheric CO2. Because of this, it is necessary to examine crop responses to factorial combinations of these environmental variables. Missions of this Laborator include the application of systems theory to the solution of complex agricultural problems; development of computer aided farm decision support systems; and prediction of the effects of future global climate change on agriculture.