the need for more comparisons among models is widely recognized. this study aimed to compare three different modelling approaches for their capability to simulate and predict trends and patterns of winter wheat yield in western germany. the three modelling approaches included an empirical model, a process-based model (lintul2), and a metamodel derived from the process-based model. the models ou...

Agricultural extension workers’ service has been placed as the central pattern of agricultural transformation in general and smallholder farmers in particular. Due largely to this commensurately known trend, identifying factors that determine farmers’ access to extension workers’ service and the effect of the service on crop yield was found to be imperative. Cross sectional data was collected t...

1. Introduction Systems approach has been used by engineers since the 1950's for the study of complex and dynamic processes but their use by scientists working in biological fields is relatively recent. A system is defined as any well delineated part of reality which may contain a number of interrelated elements forming the systems structure. These functioning components interact in various way...

The challenge of converting global agricultural food, fiber and energy crop cultivation into an ecologically and economically sustainable production process requires the most efficient agricultural management strategies. Development, control and maintenance of these strategies are highly dependent on temporally and spatially continuous information on crop status at the field scale. This paper i...

an analysis of the stages of crop growth presents an important step in the improvement of production management. through growth analysis, planning for planting systems, fertilization, pruning operations, harvest time as well as obtaining economical yield can be more accessible. therefore, a development of mathematical models simulating plant growth would be helpful in improving crop management,...

The 1996 Farm Bill was debated and passed during one of the best of times in U.S. agriculture and has presided over one of the worst of times in terms of crop prices, market incomes, and government payments. While it is not fair to lay all of crop agriculture’s price and income problems at the feet the 1996 legislation, it is fair to assign it much of the blame. Expectations were that the passa...

GIS, remote sensing and Global positioning System are the most widely useful tools for land use planning and decision support system. Remotely sensed imagery is beneficial for agricultural production. It gives the accurate information of agricultural activities such as different crop identification and classification, crop condition monitoring, crop growth, crop area and yield estimation, mappi...

Simulations for root growth, crop growth, and N uptake in agro-hydrological models are of significant concern to researchers. SWMS_2D is one of the most widely used physical hydrologically related models. This model solves equations that govern soil-water movement by the finite element method, and has a public access source code. Incorporating key agricultural components into the SWMS_2D model ...

Remote sensing bears the potential to provide quantitative information of agricultural crops instantaneously and of a certain regional extent. Estimates of crop growth which are used for crop yield prediction, and timing of forthcoming harvest are important in agricultural planning and policy making. For non-optimal growing conditions, estimates of crop growth may be inaccurate. Crop monitoring...