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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #61843
Title: A USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR CROP PHENOLOGY MODELS

Author
item Hesketh, John
item FU, H - UNIV OF ILLINOIS, URBANA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A crop phenology model (CPM) was developed as a Windows 3.1 application. The model has two basic parts: a submodel for inputting weather data and other parameters, and computing various functions and variables, such as degree days and the net radiation, which can be used by different application submodels; and secondly, the application submodels which are the simulators of different crop phenological events. The submodels can communicate each other, share resources, and are controlled under one project. Examples of soybean and velvetleaf leaf expansion and flowering will be presented. The model is based on data from field experiments. Standard weather data are used. Degree days, photoperiod, and a water stress factor are main predictors of phenology for a given species and location. Options on irrigation schedules, soil characteristics and other parameters are available in the model, for users exploring crop phenological events under various environmental conditions. The emphasis of CPM is on tools first for teaching students about modeling in crop sciences. The model was designed to be easily used as well as understood. We also have a CPM sister version in STELLA, which visually presents the model structure. CPM was also designed as a research tool, with which the basic relations between crop phenology and environmental factors can be explored with further research.