The next advance in field crop productivity will likely need to come from improving crop use efficiency of resources (e.g., light, water, and nitrogen), aspects of which are closely linked with overall crop photosynthetic efficiency. Progress in genetic manipulation of photosynthesis is confounded by uncertainties of consequences at crop level because of difficulties connecting across scales. C...

A dynamic and mechanistic mass balance model (Integrated Aquaculture/Agriculture System model, or IAAS) for predicting nitrogen and organic matter outputs from aquaculture ponds and their subsequent recycling in conventional agriculture practices has been developed and calibrated using data from Honduras, Thailand and Malawi. The model, developed using Stella modeling software (High Performanc...

The objective of the Mars Crop Yield Forecasting Systems is to provide precise, scientific, traceable independent and timely forecasts for the main crops yields at EU level. The forecasts and analysis are used since 2001 as a benchmark by analysts from DG – Agriculture and Rural Development in charge of food balance estimates. Core of the Crop Yield Forecasting System is a spatialized crop grow...

The agricultural sector will require more water in the near future to provide more food, fibre and fuels (Molden et al., 2007). As population increases and development calls for increased demand of food, a change in diet due to increased prosperity, and a recent focus on biofuels. This population growth coupled with industrialization and urbanization will result in an increasing demand for wate...

Models predicting growth and yield have been developed for a large number of crops. This paper describes a dynamic, mechanistic model for sweet pepper, addressing issues such as leaf area expansion, dry matter partitioning and validation. Leaf area formation and organ initiation are simulated as a function of temperature sum. Light absorption and photosynthesis are calculated for a multilayered...

The sustainable development of efficient water-saving agricultural irrigation in Loess Plateau requires reasonable and quantitative planning, design, management, and strategies based on crop-water-salt response relationship. In the present paper, data were measured by using the soil-water-salt sensor CS655 to modify the simulation of root uptake in the original Soil Water Atmosphere Plant (SWAP...