Applicability evaluation of DSSAT-CERES model on production of spring maize in Hill and Gully Area of the Loess Plateau

【Objectives】The DSSAT (Crop-Environment Resource Synthesis System) model is used to simulate the growing of spring maize in Hill and Gully Area of the Loess Plateau, to establish the database of soil, weather and crop varieties of DSSAT about this area, and evaluate the applicability of this model, and also lay the foundation of the model application at this area. 【Methods】This study is based on results of spring maize field experiments conducted at Ansai Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem and National Field Scientific Observation in the years of 2002, 2003 and 2005. The GULE (Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) which embedded in DSSAT4.5 was run 3000 times, combined with treatment CK in the years of 2002, 2003 and 2005 to calibrate parameters of Shendan 10 which one of the maize varieties in the Loess Plateau, and then the CERES-Maize which one of the main crop models of DSSAT4.5 shell were used to simulate the growing period, yield and aboveground biomass of spring maize under others conditions. 【Results】1)the DSSAT model can be applied to simulate the growth of spring maize well and can supply an accurate simulation for the growing period and yield of spring maize in 2002 and 2005. The differences between observed data and simulated data are within 3 days for growing period, the n-RMSE and MRE of simulation yield are both less than 10%, although theres no good work on aboveground biomass, the result could be accepted. 2)At 2003, the model can simulate the growing period of spring maize well, except the difference of 9 days for the emergence day. The yields are also simulated well, and the n-RMSE and MRE of simulation results are both less than 10%, which are 6.47% and 5.03%, respectively, while the simulation is not reasonable for the above ground biomass, the n-RMSE and MRE of simulation results are both more than 30%. 【Conclusions】The CERES-Maize model can simulate the growth period, aboveground biomass and yield of spring maize well at the Hill and Gully Area of the Loess Plateau under the condition of normal rainfall (2002, 2005). CERES cant reappear the situation of spring maize in field accurately under the condition of less rainfall (2003), the CERES-Maize model cant simulate the growing of spring maize well under the condition of less rainfall at this area.