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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #180140
Title: ALABAMA CROPMAN: A USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR CROP PRODUCTION SIMULATIONS

Author
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item GERIK, T - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item HARMAN, W - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item WILLIAMS, J - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item STEGLICH, E - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2005
Publication Date: 6/27/2005
Citation: Torbert III, H.A., Gerik, T.J., Harman, W.L., Williams, J.R., Steglich, E. 2005. Alabama cropman: a user friendly interface for crop production simulations. In: Busscher, W., Frederick, J. and Robinson S., editors. The Science of Conservation Tillage: Continuing the Discoveries, Proceedings of the 27th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, June 27-29, 2005, Florence, South Carolina. p. 203-210.

Interpretive Summary: The impact of cropping and tillage systems on agriculture production is very complicated, making it very difficult to predict the economic and environmental consequences of changes in agronomic practices. To better understand the potential consequences of agriculture practices, a user-friendly computer simulation model, “Alabama CroPMan”, has been developed to be used under Alabama condition. To validate the model for Alabama conditions, a data base of cotton, corn, and peanut crop yields (from 1997 - 2001) was collected using the variety testing data from three Alabama Agriculture Experiment Stations, representing southern, central, and northern portions of the state (Wiregrass, Prattville, and Tennessee Valley). Results from the validation study indicated that the model performed very well to predict the actual measured yields for corn, cotton, and peanut. The overall objective for the development of this model is to have it be used as a tool to promote the adoption of best management practices for farm production in the Southeast. The model was found to be very useful to derive predictions of not only crop yields, but also the economic and environmental consequence of agriculture production.

Technical Abstract: The impact of cropping and tillage systems on agriculture production is very complicated, making it very difficult to predict the economic and environmental consequences of changes in agronomic practices. To better understand the potential consequences of agriculture practices, a user-friendly computer simulation model, “Alabama CroPMan”, has been developed to be used under Alabama condition. To validate the model for Alabama conditions, a data base of cotton, corn, and peanut crop yields (from 1997 - 2001) was collected using the variety testing data from three Alabama Agriculture Experiment Stations, representing southern, central, and northern portions of the state (Wiregrass, Prattville, and Tennessee Valley). At each of these locations, the soil type, historical weather data during that time period, and agronomic cultural practices where the study was conducted was utilized for the model simulations. At the Wiregrass Experiment Station, simulation of peanuts was also conducted, using the variety test yields for early, middle, and late maturing varieties. Results from the validation study indicated that the model performed very well to predict the actual measured yields for corn, cotton, and peanut. The overall objective for the development of this model is to have it be used as a tool to promote the adoption of best management practices for farm production in the Southeast. The model was found to be very useful to derive predictions of not only crop yields, but also the economic and environmental consequence of agriculture production.