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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #224635
Title: A Crop Simulation Model for Prediction of Yield and Fate of Nitrogen in Irrigated Potato Rotation Cropping System

Author
item Alva, Ashok
item MARCOS, JAVIER - WASHINGTON ST. UNIVERSITY
item STOCKLE, CLAUDIO - WASHINGTON ST. UNIVERSITY
item Reddy, Vangimalla
item Timlin, Dennis

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2008
Publication Date: 4/1/2010
Citation: Alva, A.K., Marcos, J., Stockle, C., Reddy, V., Timlin, D.J. 2010. A Crop Simulation Model for Prediction of Yield and Fate of Nitrogen in Irrigated Potato Rotation Cropping System. Journal of Crop Improvement. 24: 142-152.

Interpretive Summary: A robust field validated crop simulation model is developed by incorporating crop responses under variations in soil processes, climatic and other production conditions, as well as input and other cultural management practices. Once a crop simulation model is developed and validated, it is an important tool to predict the crop response under different conditions without the need to conduct multiple years of experiments under each and every growing conditions and climatic regions. In this study, a potato simulation model was integrated with a multi-year, multi-crop simulation model (Cropsyst). The integrated model provided an important tool for prediction of soil processes, fate and transport of nitrogen, as well as growth and yield of different crops in a potato rotation system (potato – wheat – corn). Two years of field data on ‘Ranger Russet’ potato under center pivot irrigation in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. were used to validate potato simulation component of the above integrated model. This study confirmed a good agreement between the field measured values and those predicted by the potato simulation model for tuber yields as well as total nitrogen uptake under different nitrogen management practices. Therefore, the integrated potato simulation model can be used to predict potato yield as well as fate and transport of nitrogen in varied production conditions in a potato rotation system.

Technical Abstract: Simulation models are valuable tools to evaluate the soil processes, crop growth and production under varied agroclimatic and management conditions. In this study, an upgraded potato crop growth simulation model (CSPotato) was integrated with a multi-year, multi-crop simulation model (CropSystVB). The integrated CropSystVB-CSPotato model facilitated prediction of soil processes, and growth and yields of different crops in a potato rotation system under center pivot irrigation. The integrated model was validated using two years (2001-2002) field data on Ranger Russet cultivars grown in a Quincy fine sand in the Pacific Northwest Columbia Basin production region under different nitrogen management practices. This study showed good agreement between the measured and predicted yields as well as N uptake across different N management practices in both years. The predicted water as well as nitrogen drainage below the potato rooting depth (0.6 m) was greater in 2002 than that in 2001. This study demonstrated that the Potato model integrated with CropSystVB can be used as a valuable decision tool to predict the crop yields, and fate and transport of N in irrigated potato rotation cropping systems.