Practical Applications of Agricultural System Models to Optimize the Use of Limited Water

Completely devoted to applicati on of models to opti mize the use of limited water and nutrients in various climates, this collecti on will inspire confi dence in the capacity of modeling to tackle the biggest threats to secure agriculture. To obtain the most producti on from available water while maintaining natural resources, we need whole system–based quanti tati ve knowledge and tools to help select appropriate crops and manage water and associated inputs on a site-specifi c basis under changing climate. Site-specifi c experimental results are available for limited locati ons, limited periods of ti me, and limited management opti ons. Well-tested process models of cropping systems can extend fi eld research results to long-term weather conditi ons, as well as other climates and soils, allowing us to explore new management opti ons. The case studies in this volume are promising examples of these kinds of soluti ons. Foreword vii

Preface ix

Contributors xi

Quantifying Corn Yield and Water Use Efficiency under Growth Stage–Based Deficit Irrigation Conditions
Quan X. Fang, L. Ma, David C. Nielsen, Thomas J. Trout, and L.R. Ahuja 1

Modeling for Best Management of the Effects of Irrigation Frequencies, Initial Water, and Nitrogen on Corn
S.A. Saseendran, L.R. Ahuja, L. Ma, and T.J. Trout 25

A Mobile Irrigation Water Management System Using a Collaborative GIS and Weather Station Networks
A.A. Andales, T.A. Bauder, and M. Arabi 53

Circular Planting to Enhance Rainfall Capture in Dryland Cropping Systems at a Landscape Scale: Measurement and Simulation
Robert J. Lascano and J. Randall Nelson 85

Quantifying and Managing Corn Water Use Efficiencies under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions in Nebraska Using the Hybrid-Maize Simulation Model
Haishun Yang and Patricio Grassini 113

Modeling to Evaluate and Manage Water and Environmental Sustainability of Bioenergy Crops in the United States
James R. Kiniry, Manyowa N. Meki, Thomas E. Schumacher, Cody J. Zilverberg, Felix B. Fritschi, and Vijaya G. Kakani 139

Using a Model and Forecasted Weather to Predict Forage and Livestock Production for Making Stocking Decisions in the Coming Growing Season
Quan X. Fang, L.R. Ahuja, Allan A. Andales, and Justin D. Derner 161

Providing User-Oriented Uncertainty Information with a Vineyard Model Used for Irrigation Decisions
Sébastien Roux, Xavier Delpuech, Gabriel Daudin, François Brun, Jacques Wery, and Daniel Wallach 183

Determination of Irrigation Depths Using a Numerical Model and Quantitative Weather Forecasts and Comparison with an Experiment
H. Fujimaki, I. Tokumoto, T. Saito, M. Inoue, M. Shibata, M. Okazaki, K. Nagaz, and Fathia El-Mokh 209

Modeling to Evaluate and Manage Climate Change Effects on Water Use in Mediterranean Olive Orchards with Respect to Cover Crops and Tillage Management
J.A. Gómez, M.T. Rodríguez-Carretero, I.J. Lorite, and E. Fereres 237

Modeling Water Management and Food Security in India under Climate Change
Adlul Islam, Paresh Bhaskar Shirsath, Soora Naresh Kumar, Nataraja Subash, Alok K. Sikka, and Pramod K. Aggarwal 267

Irrigation and Water Management Decisions Involving Sugarcane in Southern Africa
Neil Louis Lecler 317

A Modeling Approach to Explore Water Management Strategies for Late-Sown Maize and Double-Cropped Wheat–Maize in the Rainfed Pampas Region of Argentina
Jorge L. Mercau and Maria E. Otegui 351

Model Applications for Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Based Smallholder Cropping in a Changing World
Mary Ollenburger and Sieglinde Snapp 379

Syntheses of the Current Model Applications for Managing Water and Needs for Experimental Data and Model Improvements to Enhance these Applications
L.R. Ahuja, Liwang Ma, Robert J. Lascano, S.A. Saseendran, Q.X. Fang, David C. Nielsen, Enli Wang, and Paul D. Colaizzi 399

About the Series 439

Dr. Laj Ahuja is a retired soil scientist at USDA in Fort Collins, CO.

Dr. Liwang Ma is a research soil scientist at the USDA-ARS Rangeland Resources and Systems Research Unit at Fort Collins. Dr. Ma's research interests include the use of system ecological and biophysical models to quantify agricultural production and environmental impacts at multiple spatiotemporal scales in rangelands and croplands.

Dr. Robert Lascano is a GS-15 Soil Scientist and Research Leader of the Wind Erosion & Water Conservation (WEWC) Research Unit of the Cropping Systems Research Laboratory at Lubbock.