Project Number: 1245-61660-006-13
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Feb 28, 2014

Objective:
The objectives of this agreement are: 1) to collect data sets for cotton, soybean, corn, and potato on the impact of reduced rates of major nutrients on the growth and developmental rates of various plant organs; 2) to develop algorithms on the response variables and integrate with models; 3) to develop and test a diffusive root growth routine and integrate with process based two-dimensional soil process model, 2DSOIL to use with MAIZSIM and SPUDSIM models; and 4) to work on further improvements in MAIZSIM and SPUDSIM models to account for differences in root growth, water and nitrogen uptake parameters between corn and potato crops in order to improve crop model simulations.

Approach:
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) continues to improve various subroutines by incorporating new algorithms for crop models, SPUDSIM, MAIZSIM, GLYCIM and GOSSYM. In order to accurately simulate these crops under a range of environmental and management conditions, soils, and varietal differences, the models require additional modules and improved algorithms. The collaborator, working closely with ARS scientists, will develop new modules and algorithms and integrate with Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory crop models. These models will be validated against field data collected under a range of conditions using several cultivars.