Campus Units
Agronomy, Horticulture, Statistics
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
12-23-2019
Journal or Book Title
Agronomy Journal
Volume
112
Issue
3
First Page
1895
Last Page
1910
DOI
10.1002/agj2.20108
Abstract
The inclusion of perennial groundcover (PGC) in maize production offers a tenable solution to natural resources-related concerns associated with conventional maize; however, insight into system management and key information gaps is needed to guide future research. We therefore extended the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to an annual and perennial intercrop by integrating annual and perennial APSIM modules. These were parameterized for Kentucky bluegrass (KB) (Poa pratensis L.) or creeping red fescue (CF) (Festuca rubra L.) as PGC using a three-year dataset. Our objectives for this intercropping modeling study were to: i) simultaneously model a PGC and annual cash crop using APSIM software; ii) utilize APSIM to understand interactive processes in the maize-PGC system; and iii) utilize the calibrated model to explore both production and environmental benefits via scenario modeling. For objective I, the integrated model successfully predicted maize total aboveground biomass (TAB) (relative root mean square error, RRMSE of 13- 27%) and PGC above- and belowground tissue N concentration (RRMSE of 11-18%). The calibrated model effectively captured observed trends in PGC biomass accumulation and soil nitrate (NO3). For objective II, model analysis showed that competition for light was the primary maize yield penalty factor from PGC, while water and N impacted maize yield later in the maize growing season. In objective III, we concluded that effective PGC suppression produces minimal maize yield loss and significant environmental benefits; conversely, poor groundcover suppression may produce unfavorable environmental consequences and decrease maize grain yield. Effective PGC suppression is key for long-term system success.
Copyright Owner
The Authors. Agronomy Journal, American Society of Agronomy
Copyright Date
2019
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Bartel, C. A.; Archontoulis, Sotirios V.; Lenssen, Andrew W.; Moore, Kenneth J.; Huber, Isaiah L.; Laird, D. A.; Fei, Shuizhang; and Dixon, Philip M., "Modeling perennial groundcover effects on annual maize grain crop growth with the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator" (2019). Agronomy Publications. 620.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/620
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Horticulture Commons, Statistical Models Commons
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Bartel, C. A., Sotirios V. Archontoulis, Andrew W. Lenssen, Kenneth J. Moore, Isaiah L. Huber, David A. Laird, S. Fei, and P. M. Dixon. "Modeling perennial groundcover effects on annual maize grain crop growth with Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator." Agronomy Journal 112 (2019): 1895-1910. doi: 10.1002/agj2.20108. Posted with permission.