Insightful applications of crop system models to developing countries to explore climate change mitigation and management decision tools

Enhancing Agricultural Research and Precision Management for Subsistence Farming by Integrating System Models with Experiments delivers an authoritative collection of applications of crop system models to Asian and African environments and evaluates current agricultural systems in developing nations. The book provides models to assist in the precision management of soil, water, fertilizers and manures, soil organic matter, alternative crops, and cultivars in both rainfed and irrigated systems.

Contributions cover recent and ongoing research in knowledge gap areas such as modeling the long-term effect of management soil health, the effect of extreme temperatures and drought on evapotranspiration and crop growth, root growth and the uptake of water and nutrients. The book also includesAn introduction to system models integrated with experiments as tools to develop improved management practices for subsistence farmingExplorations of models of soil erosion impacts and trade-offs for sustainable land management practices in KenyaDiscussions of the crop simulation model as a tool to quantify the effects of crop management practices in northern EthiopiaIn-depth examinations of models of water dynamics for assessing and managing ecosystem services in India

Perfect for field research scientists and graduate students studying cropping and range systems, and essential reading for agricultural consultants, progressive farmers, plant breeders, and policymakers.

Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling
Transdisciplinary Research, Synthesis, and Applications
Lajpat R. Ahuja, Series Editor

Agricultural system modeling has made substantial progress, but there are still many critical gaps in our knowledge. The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America are taking a leadership role with the initiation of this new series. Future breakthroughs in science and technology lie at the boundaries of disciplines. The new series willAdvance critical transdisciplinary research, and its synthesis and quantificationEncourage collaboration among top researchers in building and improving modelsPromote the application of system models to solve practical problemsAchieve better instruction in these models and their applications

Dennis J. Timlin, PhD, is a Research Soil Scientist with the USDA-ARS Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, USA

Saseendran S. Anapalli, PhD, is a Research Soil Scientist at the Sustainable Water Management Research Unit, USDA, ARS, USA

1 Introduction: System Models Integrated with Experiments Can Be Useful Tools to Develop Improved Management Practices for Subsistence Farming to Address Increased Intensification and Climate Change 1

Dennis J. Timlin and Saseendran S. Anapalli

2 Modeling Soil Erosion Impacts and Trade-Offs of Sustainable Land Management Practices in theUpper Tana Region of the Central Highlands in Kenya 6

Celine Birnholz, Birthe Paul, Rolf Sommer, and Ravic Nijbroek

3 Using Crop Simulation Models as Tools to Quantify Effects of Crop Management Practices andClimate Change Scenarios on Wheat Yields in Northern Ethiopia 29

Aleme Araya, P.V. Vara Prasad, Ignacio A. Ciampitti, Charles W. Rice,and Prasanna H. Gowda

4 The Role of Crop Simulation Modeling in Managing Fertilizer Use in Maize Production Systems inNorthern Ghana 48

Dilys S. MacCarthy, Samuel G. K. Adiku, Alpha Y. Kamara,Bright S. Freduah, and Joseph X. Kugbe

5 Modeling Water Dynamics for Assessing and Managing Ecosystem Services in India 69

Shakir Ali, Adlul Islam, and Prabhat R. Ojasvi

6 Modeling Agricultural Hydrology and Water Productivity to Enhance Water Management in theAridIrrigation District of China 104

Xiaoyu Gao, Zailin Huo, Zhongyi Qu, and Pengcheng Tang

7 Use of Data and Models in Simulating Regional and Geospatial Variations in Climate ChangeImpactson Rice and Barley in the Republic of Korea 134

Seungtaek Jeong, Han-Yong Kim, Jonghan Ko, and Byunwoo Lee

8 Constraints to Productivity of Subsistence Dryland Agroecosystems in the Fertile Crescent:Simulation and Statistical Modeling 155

Abdullah A. Jaradat and Dennis J. Timlin

Index 190