Comparative Analysis of Phenology Algorithms of the Spring Barley Model in APSIM 7.9 and APSIM Next Generation: A Case Study for High Latitudes

Abstract

Phenology algorithms in crop growth models have inevitable systematic errors and uncertainties. In this study, the phenology simulation algorithms in APSIM classical (APSIM 7.9) and APSIM next generation (APSIM-NG) were compared for spring barley models at high latitudes. Phenological data of twelve spring barley varieties were used for the 2014-2018 cropping seasons from northern Sweden and Finland. A factorial-based calibration approach provided within APSIM-NG was performed to calibrate both models. The models have different mechanisms to simulate days to anthesis. The calibration was performed separately for days to anthesis and physiological maturity, and evaluations for the calibrations were done with independent datasets. The calibration performance for both growth stages of APSIM-NG was better compared to APSIM 7.9. However, in the evaluation, APSIM-NG showed an inclination to overestimate days to physiological maturity. The differences between the models are possibly due to slower thermal time accumulation mechanism, with higher cardinal temperatures in APSIM-NG. For a robust phenology prediction at high latitudes with APSIM-NG, more research on the conception of thermal time computation and implementation is suggested.

Keywords

phenology; barley; modelling; algorithms; APSIM next generation; APSIM classic; high latitudes

Published in

Plants
2021, volume: 10, number: 3, article number: 443
Publisher: MDPI

SLU Authors

• Kumar, Uttam

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Morel, Julien

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergkvist, Göran

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gustavsson, Anne-Maj

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ahmed, Mukhtar

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Parsons, David

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Botany
Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030443

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111596