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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Rangeland Resources & Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332175
Title: Crop submodel of WEPS

Author
item Fox, Jr, Fred
item Retta, Amare

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2020
Publication Date: 9/3/2020
Citation: Fox, F. and A. Retta. 2020. Crop submodel of WEPS. In: Tatarko, J., editor. The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS): Technical Documentation. USDA Agriculture Handbook 727. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD. p. 272-321.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A plant growth submodel (dubbed Crop) was developed for the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS). The model calculates daily production of roots, leaves, stems, and reproductive organ masses and leaf and stem areas as needed for simulating wind erosion. Plant growth variables are adjusted within the Crop submodel for suboptimal temperature conditions or lack of adequate supplies of water to meet plant growth needs. The model was tested on data from 5 crops grown in Manhattan, Kansas. Agreement between measured and simulated values was good for corn. The model is representative of the soybean growth trend as well as for the relationship between total biomass and stem mass for soybean and winter wheat. The stem mass was under predicted in relation to total biomass for oats and soybeans. The use of a residue yield ratio resulted in an improved relationship between stem mass and total biomass at the end of the season for oats and soybean. The Crop submodel of WEPS is the only model that simulates the plant characteristics that affect erodibility for improved simulation of wind erosion.