Performance of 13 crop simulation models and their ensemble for simulating four field crops in Central Europe

Author(s):  
M. Kostková ◽  
P. Hlavinka ◽  
E. Pohanková ◽  
K. C. Kersebaum ◽  
C. Nendel ◽  
...  

Abstract The main aim of the current study was to present the abilities of widely used crop models to simulate four different field crops (winter wheat, spring barley, silage maize and winter oilseed rape). The 13 models were tested under Central European conditions represented by three locations in the Czech Republic, selected using temperature and precipitation gradients for the target crops in this region. Based on observed crop phenology and yield from 1991 to 2010, performances of individual models and their ensemble were analyzed. Modelling of anthesis and maturity was generally best simulated by the ensemble median (EnsMED) compared to the ensemble mean and individual models. The yield was better simulated by the best models than estimated by an ensemble. Higher accuracy was achieved for spring crops, with the best results for silage maize, while the lowest accuracy was for winter oilseed rape according to the index of agreement (IA). Based on EnsMED, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) for yield was 1365 kg/ha for winter wheat, 1105 kg/ha for spring barley, 1861 kg/ha for silage maize and 969 kg/ha for winter oilseed rape. The AQUACROP and EPIC models performed best in terms of spread around the line of best fit (RMSE, IA). In some cases, the individual models failed. For crop rotation simulations, only models with reasonable accuracy (i.e. without failures) across all included crops within the target environment should be selected. Application crop models ensemble is one way to increase the accuracy of predictions, but lower variability of ensemble outputs was confirmed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 619-625
Author(s):  
Gabriela Mühlbachová ◽  
Pavel Čermák ◽  
Martin Káš ◽  
Kateřina Marková ◽  
Radek Vavera ◽  
...  

The boron (B) availability and uptake were studied in relation to different phosphorus rates applied into soils in a three-year field experiment (2015–2017). The experiment was carried out at the experimental station at Humpolec (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, Czech Republic). Three rates of phosphorus (20-40-80 kg P/ha) were applied as triple superphosphate. The crop rotation was spring barley-winter oilseed rape-winter wheat. No systematic fertilization with B was used and the response of natural boron soil content to the different phosphorus supply was studied. The crop yields, B content in plants, B-uptake, and content of B (extracted by Mehlich 3 and NH<sub>4</sub> acetate methods) were determined. Spring barley and winter wheat B uptake was about one order of magnitude lower in comparison with oilseed rape. Significant differences in B content in soils, in crop tissues and B-uptake, were found mainly under higher phosphorus doses (40 and 80 kg P/ha). NH<sub>4</sub> acetate method showed better correlations between P and B contents in soils than Mehlich 3 method from the second experimental year. The P-fertilization may affect negatively the B-uptake by plants, particularly if the highly nutrient demanding crop is grown.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Orzech ◽  
Maria Wanic ◽  
Dariusz Załuski

Progressive soil compaction is a disadvantage of intensive tillage. Compaction exerts a negative impact on the physical properties of soil and decreases crop performance. The adverse effects of soil compaction can be mitigated by replacing conventional tillage with simplified tillage techniques. Simplified tillage exerts a protective effect on soil, reduces production costs and preserves agricultural ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of compaction and different tillage methods on the bulk density and moisture content of soil. The experimental factors were as follows: Soil compaction before sowing (non-compacted control treatment and experimental treatments where soil was compacted after the harvest of the preceding crop) and four different methods of seedbed preparation in a three-field rotation system (winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, spring barley). The influence of compaction on the bulk density and moisture content of soil varied across the rotated crops and their developmental stages. Soil compaction had no significant effect on the analyzed parameters in the cultivation of winter oilseed rape. In treatments sown with winter wheat, soil compaction resulted in significantly lower soil density and significantly higher soil moisture content. In plots sown with spring barley, soil compaction led to a significant increase in the values of both parameters. The average bulk density of soil after various tillage operations in the examined crop rotation system ranged from 1.49–1.69 g·m−3 (winter oilseed rape), 1.47–1.59 g·m−3 (winter wheat), 1.47–1.61 g·m−3 (spring barley). The bulk density and moisture content of soil were lowest after conventional tillage (control treatment) and higher after simplified tillage. Regardless of soil compaction, the greatest reduction in winter oilseed rape yields was noted in response to skimming, harrowing and the absence of pre-sowing plowing. Spring barley yields were higher in non-compacted treatments, whereas the reverse was observed in winter wheat. Chisel plowing and single plowing induced the greatest decrease in wheat yields relative to conventional tillage. Single plowing significantly decreased the grain yield of spring barley relative to the tillage system that involved skimming and fall plowing to a depth of 25.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8246
Author(s):  
Darius Juknevičius ◽  
Zita Kriaučiūnienė ◽  
Algirdas Jasinskas ◽  
Egidijus Šarauskis

Agricultural management, environmentally friendly technologies, chemical, organic and bio-based substances used, as well as meteorological factors, have a significant impact on the fluctuations of soil organic carbon (SOC). The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of different biopreparations on the changes of SOC content and the winter wheat and winter oilseed rape yields by assessing the energy consumption efficiency and the environmental impacts. The experimental research was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in three different treatments, in two of which were used either a molasses and magnesium sulphate based-biopreparation (T1) or a bacteria-based biopreparation (T2), while treatment T3 was applied as a control where no biopreparations were used. The dynamics of SOC content were analyzed at two depths: 0–10 and 10–20 cm. For the analysis of energy efficiency indicators and environmental impacts, the greenhouse gas (GHG) and energy consumption conversion equivalents were used. A summary of the results showed that both types of biopreparations had a positive effect on the changes of SOC content, which was especially evident in the deeper layers at 10–20 cm depth, where, irrespective of the crop type, a more significant increase of the SOC content was observed every year of the experiment compared to the control treatment. Biopreparations had a significant effect in increasing the winter wheat and winter oilseed rape yield. The best energy efficiency ratio was observed in winter wheat (4.84) and winter oilseed rape (5.11) in treatment T1. The results of the environmental impact assessment showed that the lowest GHG emissions were recorded in the winter wheat production in treatment T1 at 108.7–149.1 kg CO2eq Mg−1, while the highest were observed in oilseed rape production in the control treatment T3 at 343.4 kg CO2eq Mg−1.


2020 ◽  
pp. 107902
Author(s):  
Ulf Böttcher ◽  
Wiebke Weymann ◽  
Johannes W.M. Pullens ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen ◽  
Henning Kage

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1747
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Rutkowska ◽  
Piotr Skowron

Two factorial field experiments were carried out between 2003 and 2018 in the Experimental Stations in Eastern and Western Poland using four crop rotations with winter oilseed rape, winter wheat, maize and spring barley. The initial value of phosphorus (P) in Grabów soil was 69.8 mg P·kg−1 soil and in Baborówko soil it was 111.3 mg P·kg−1 soil (Egner-Riehm Double-Lactate DL). P fertilizer was added annually at 39 kg P·ha−1 under winter oilseed rape, 35 kg P·ha−1 under maize and 31 kg P·ha−1 under wheat and barley using superphosphate and nitrogen (N), which was added at five levels (30–250 kg N·ha−1) per year as ammonium nitrate in addition to controls with no added fertilizer. Through the several years of the experiment, P fertilizer had no effect on crop N use efficiency (NUE) nor crop productivity. There was significant soil P mining particularly in the high-N fertilizer trials causing a reduction in the content of available soil P by up to 35%. This work recommends that, based on soil P analysis, P fertilizer should not be added to high-P soils. This practice may continue uninterrupted for several years (16 in this case) until the excess soil P has been reduced. This mechanism of removal of “legacy” P from soil has major implications in reducing runoff P into the Baltic Sea drainage area and other water bodies.


1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Thomsen ◽  
B. T. Christensen

SUMMARYIn autumn 1991, sugarbeet tops (Beta vulgaris L.) and different components of oilseed rape residues (Brassica napus L.), both labelled with 15N, were incorporated into the soil under field conditions at Askov Experimental Station, Denmark, using stainless steel cylinders to contain the treatments. The availability of this labelled N to a subsequent crop was measured, using as test crops autumn-sown rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In spring 1992, cylinders with 15 N-residues received NH4NO3 and those without 15NH415NO3. In a parallel experiment, 15N-labelled beet tops were incorporated in lysimeters. A four-course rotation of sugarbeet, spring barley (undersown with perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne L.), perennial ryegrass and winter wheat at two rates of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or animal slurry was grown in these lysimeters. Leaching and the availability of beet top N to successive crops were followed for 2 years. The soil in the cylinders and lysimeters was a light sandy loam (˜ 10% clay).Of the 7·10 g N/m2 added in beet tops, 10–15% was harvested in two subsequent crops of barley and ryegrass and 13–19% was lost by nitrate leaching. Beet top N accounted for 3–7% of the total N offtake in 1992. In 1993 < 1·5% of the total N offtake in ryegrass was from the beet tops applied in 1991. Combining results from mineral fertilized treatments, it was found that 9% of the beet top N was removed in the first cereal crop, 9% was lost by nitrate leaching and 68% remained in the 0–20 cm soil layer (including roots), suggesting that the denitrification loss was < 15%.Incorporation of oilseed rape stubble (1·35 g N/m2), two rates of pods (6·25 and 18·75 g N/m2) or mixed residues (12·25 g N/m2) contributed 0·5, 2·3, 7·4 and 4·6%, respectively, to the total N harvested in the following crop of winter wheat. The percentage of the added labelled N taken up by the wheat ranged from 4·9 to 6·1%, with 60–79% remaining in the 0–20 cm layer after harvest.For beet tops it was calculated that 100 kg N/ha in residues incorporated in the autumn could replace 18 kg N/ha given in the following spring as mineral fertilizer. For oilseed residues, the corresponding average value was 9 kg N/ha.In fertilized cropping systems, oilseed rape residues had minor effects on the subsequent crop, so that an uneven return of residues, as often occurs with combined crops, would do little harm. A considerable proportion of the N applied in sugarbeet tops was lost by leaching and the residual value of the sugarbeet tops to subsequent crops was low.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-338
Author(s):  
V. I. Chaban ◽  
S. P. Kliavzo ◽  
O. U. Podobed ◽  
A. І. Horbatenko

The most important environmental factors for the environment and habitat of plants include temperature. Agro-industrial production requires up-to-date information on the state of thermal resources and the response of plants to global warming within each region. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the state of thermal resources and the dynamics of crop yields in the Northern Steppe of Ukraine. Material for the research was the results of observations of the temperature regime of the AISW Dnipro (1961–1990 and 1991–2018) and data of winter wheat, spring barley, corn, sunflower in stationary experiments on control variants (DPDG “Dnipro”). Statistical data were used to evaluate the data by period: arithmetic mean (M); standard deviation (S); confidence interval (CL0.05) probability (P); repeatability (P × 100 %). Statistical processing was performed using applications in Excel 2003 and Statistica (version 6). Analysis of the thermal regime data showed that in 1991–2018, the average temperature for the year increased by 1.0 °C compared to the climatic norm (1961–1990), by 0.9 °C during the warm and cold periods. vegetation period of early cereals and late crops – by 0.8–1.0 °С. The average rate of increase in the average annual temperature in 1961–2018 was 0.31 ° C/10 years. Between 1991 and 2018, there were 15 cases with temperatures above 9.5 °C, with a recurrence rate of up to 53 %. The last decade (2009–2018) is characterized by a further increase in temperature during the year – by 1.5 ° C, the vegetation of early cere-als – by 1.6 °C, and late crops – by 2.0 °C. It is established that the warming is due to the temperature increase in the cold season – in January, February and March by 1.1,71.7 °C. Positive anomalies occur in July and August (+1.5 ° C). For estimating thermal resources, the important characteristics are the average temperature of the coldest and warmest months of the year. January 10-year average temperatures steadily increased from (-6.5) °C in 1961–1970, to (-4.0) °C in 2011–2018. Their annual variability decreased. The recurrence of high temperature (> -5 °C) in January increased from 34–35 % in 1961–1980 to 73 % in 2011–2018. The average values of July temperatures for 10 annual cycles have steadily increased from 20.8 to 23.0 °C since 1970. The recurrence of temperature> 23.0 °C for 1961–1970 was 2 cases and has increased 2.5 times in recent years. This increases the likelihood of sleepless periods. The positive trend leads to a shift in the dates of the steady transition of the average daily air temperature through 5 °C and the duration of the growing season. Over the last 18 years (2001–2018), it increased by 11–16 days (225 and 209–214). The incidence of such cases increased from 22 % to 44–50 %. At the same time, the increase in the duration of the period with an average daily temperature of ≥10 °C is not statistically significant. The average sums of effective temperatures ≥5 °C over the 10-year cycles in 2011–2018 were 2711 °C, which is 347 °C higher than the base period (1961–1990). Temperature totals increase linearly from 1971 to 2018. However, their recurrence (≥2711) in 2011–2018 sharply increases to 50 %. A close correlation (R2 = 0.75) was established between the duration of the period at ≥5 °C and the sum of effective heat ≥5 °C. A similar trend is typical for effective temperatures at ≥10 °C. The results of the accounting of crops show that for the whole period of observations their average values were: winter wheat (steam) – 4.44 t/ha; spring barley – 2.40 t/ha; corn – 4.32 t/ha; sunflower – 2.15 t/ha. Their distribution was characterized by significant fluctuations due to the variability of weather conditions. However, its maximum levels were noted in the post base period. Against the background of increasing supply of thermal resources in the region, there is an increase in their average yield: steam of winter – by 36 % (3.76 and 5.12 t/ha); spring barley – 24 % (2.14 and 2.65 t/ha ), corn – 11 % (4.14 and 4.59 t/ha), sunflower – 30 % (1.86 and 2.42 t/ha). The probability of forming the optimal yield level of steam winter, spring barley, corn and sunflower (≥4,44; ≥2,40; ≥4,32; ≥2,15 t/ha, respectively, for crops) in the post base period reaches 56–76 % whereas in 1961–1990 it was 25–43 %. Keywords: thermal resources, sum of temperatures, field crops, yield dynamics, adaptive properties.


Author(s):  
Vítězslav Vlček ◽  
Radomíra Střálková ◽  
Jitka Podešvová ◽  
Eduard Pokorný

The paper evaluates seven years (1993–1999) of Soil organic matter supply monitoring in multifactor field trials conducted by the Agricultural Research Institute in Kroměříž, Czech Republic, (mean annual temperature 8.9 °C, total annual precipitation 599 mm, medium Luvi-Haplic Chernozem). The studied plots were a part of nine-crop rotation: alfalfa the 1st and 2nd year, winter wheat, spring barley, sugar beet, spring barley, winter wheat, silage maize and spring barley. The Soil organic matter supply was measured on four plots: winter wheat after spring barley (var. 1), winter wheat after alfalfa (var. 2), spring barley after winter wheat (var. 3) and spring barley after sugar beet (var. 4). Soil samples were taken from April to July (14–day period) from topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–60 cm). The content of Soil organic matter was determined by wet oxidation. Using bulk density, the C content (%) was converted to C supply (t. ha−1). Average yield (t. ha−1) reached 6.54 t/ha (var. 1), 7.47 t/ha (var. 2), 6.52 t/ha (var. 3) and 7.20 t/ha (var. 4). Evaluation of the results was carried out by the analysis of variance and time changes by the second-degree regression analysis. Results demonstrated that Soil organic matter supplies were significantly changed in topsoil. The highest supplies were found in barley after sugar beet (118 t. ha−1), the lowest ones in wheat after alfalfa (111 t. ha−1). As for the cereal species generally, it was documented that in topsoils under barley the supplies were higher than under winter wheat. In subsoil, there were significant differences between wheat after alfalfa (111 t. ha−1) and barley after wheat (104 t. ha−1). As for a difference in the Soil organic matter supply in subsoil according to the cereal species the situation was contrary than in topsoil. Higher supplies were under wheat. Generally (topsoil and subsoil), the highest supply of Soil organic matter was in barley after sugar beet (224 t. ha−1) and similarly in wheat after alfalfa (222 t. ha−1). The smallest supply was in the variant of wheat after barley (217 t. ha−1). In topsoil, the average supply of humus was 114 t. ha−1 and that in subsoil was 107 t. ha−1 the difference being statistically significant.


2011 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 211-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Váňová ◽  
S. Palík ◽  
J. Hajšlová ◽  
I. Burešová

Effects of the year, previous crop and control of leaf diseases on grain yield, test weight, protein and starch content, Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) content in grain were investigated in four spring barley varieties. The trials were set up in 2001&ndash;2004 at Kroměř&iacute;ž (235 m above sea level, average annual temperature 8.7&deg;C, annual precipitation sum 599 mm) in a five-course crop rotation, where spring barley followed the previous crops sugar beet, winter wheat, maize, and oilseed rape. The experimental years differed a lot in temperature and precipitation. The years 2001 and 2002 were dry and warm and grain yield was much lower as compared to that in the following years even though the other growing conditions were identical. The most stable quality parameters were obtained after the previous crop sugar beet. The average value of test weight was 661 g/l(ranging from 629 to 685 g/l), protein content 11.2% (10.3&ndash;11.7%) and starch content 61.5% (58.9&ndash;64.9%). Grain yield averaged 6.67 t/ha. Test weight after maize was on average 658 g/l(619&ndash;692 g/l), protein content 11.5% (10.1&ndash;12.4%), starch content 60.7% (59.2&ndash;63.8%), and grain yield 6.24 t/ha. Test weight and starch content were lower and protein content higher after oilseed rape and winter wheat. A higher FHB incidence and DON content were found after the previous crop maize. In 2001 and 2002 with strong water deficit during the growing seasons, more grains infected by Fusarium spp. were detected and DON content was higher too. The increase was due to a short rainy period at heading of spring barley. Problems of variable conditions for growing malting varieties of spring barley and current possibilities of producing both good grain yields and quality are discussed.


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