Simulating maize yield and bomass with spatial variability of soil field capacity

Agronomy Journal
By: , and 

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Abstract

Spatial variability in field soil properties is a challenge for system modelers who use single representative values, such as means, for model inputs, rather than their distributions. In this study, the root zone water quality model (RZWQM2) was first calibrated for 4 yr of maize (Zea mays L.) data at six irrigation levels in northern Colorado and then used to study spatial variability of soil field capacity (FC) estimated in 96 plots on maize yield and biomass. The best results were obtained when the crop parameters were fitted along with FCs, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 354 kg ha–1 for yield and 1202 kg ha–1 for biomass. When running the model using each of the 96 sets of field-estimated FC values, instead of calibrating FCs, the average simulated yield and biomass from the 96 runs were close to measured values with a RMSE of 376 kg ha–1 for yield and 1504 kg ha–1 for biomass. When an average of the 96 FC values for each soil layer was used, simulated yield and biomass were also acceptable with a RMSE of 438 kg ha–1 for yield and 1627 kg ha–1 for biomass. Therefore, when there are large numbers of FC measurements, an average value might be sufficient for model inputs. However, when the ranges of FC measurements were known for each soil layer, a sampled distribution of FCs using the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) might be used for model inputs.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Simulating maize yield and bomass with spatial variability of soil field capacity
Series title Agronomy Journal
DOI 10.2134/agronj2015.0206
Volume 108
Issue 1
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher American Society of Agronomy
Publisher location Madison, WI
Contributing office(s) National Water Quality Assessment Program
Description 14 p.
First page 171
Last page 184
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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