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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #67573
Title: A CROP PHENOLOGY SIMULATOR FOR WINDOWS

Author
item FU, HAILIANG - CROP SCIENCES UNIV OF IL
item Hesketh, John

Submitted to: Computers in Agriculture International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: New programming techniques were used to develop computer software for predicting weather and soil effects on crop/weed leaf-stem growth, leaf aging and yield. The software accounts for soil water availability, based upon rainfall, soil characteristics and crop water use. Predictions of leaf area at different heights in the canopy were based upon crop and weather station data taken at Urbana IL. Crop leaf area controls crop water usage, associated nitrogen uptake by the roots, as well as crop dry matter production. The stem and leaf detail accounted for in a wide range of crops and weeds makes this computer software unique. Software improvements and associated research will permit future studies of how crops and weeds compete, leading to the development of better methods for weed control and other aspects of crop management.

Technical Abstract: Object oriented software for simulation of crop growth and phenology under field conditions has been developed for educational and research purposes. The software includes a data model and two application models, each of which has a user-friendly interface. The data model processes weather data, plant parameters, and other information, generating degree days, photoperiod, net radiation and other results. The application models simulate field physical and hydrological processes, and predict crop growth and phenological events according to temperature, photoperiod, water moisture and other field conditions. The models can share data and a project file controls the models. Soybean is taken as an example crop. Data sets used to develop the models are from field experiments in Urbana, IL, USA. The main topics covered in the software include field energy balance, evapotranspiration, soil water content, crop leaf expansion, internode development, flowering, and other vegetative and reproductive growth processes. Water stress effects are simulated using different irrigation schedules. The software can display or print inputted data and simulated results using both data tables and graphic windows. Functions for data comparison, X-Y plot, regression and curve fit are available for data analysis. ASCII files containing the project information and simulation results are generated for further use. Context sensitive help is also available. The software was developed using Visual C++ and runs on PC in Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 operating systems.