Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling Transdisciplinary Research, Synthesis, and Applications

Volume 5Lajpat R. Ahuja, Series Editor

Practical Applications of Agricultural System Models to

Optimize the Use of Limited Water Lajpat R. Ahuja, Liwang Ma, and Robert J. Lascano, Editors

Book and Multimedia Publishing CommitteeApril Ulery, Chair

Warren Dick, ASA Editor-in-ChiefE. Charles Brummer, CSSA Editor-in-Chief

Andrew Sharpley, SSSA Editor-in-Chief Lajpat R. Ahuja

Sangamesh Angadi Kimberly Cook

David Fang Girisha Ganjegunte

Robert Graham Zhongqi He

Srirama Krishna Reddy Limei Liu Shuyu Liu

Sally Logsdon Trenton Roberts

Nooreldeen Shawqi Ali Gurpal Toor

Director of Publications: Bill CookBooks Aquisitions Editor: Nicole Sandler

Managing Editor: Lisa Al-Amoodi

Copyright © 2014 by American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Crop Science Society of America, Inc. Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

The views expressed in this publication represent those of the individual Editors and Authors. These views do not necessarily reflect endorsement by the Publisher(s). In addition, trade names are sometimes mentioned in this publication. No endorsement of these products by the Publisher(s) is intended, nor is any criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Crop Science Society of America, Inc.Soil Science Society of America, Inc.5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711-5801 USA

agronomy.org | soils.org | crops.orgdl.sciencesocieties.orgSocietyStore.org

ISBN: 978-0-89118-343-3 (print)ISBN: 978-0-89118-344-0 (digital)doi:10.2134/advagricsystmodel5Library of Congress Control Number: 2014956736

Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling ISSN: 2163-2790 (online)ISSN: 2163-2774 (print)

Cover design: Patricia ScullionCover photo: “Knowledge rise.” Thomas Trout, USDA-ARS.

Many of the photos in this volume were taken by Dr. Thomas J. Trout of USDA-ARS, Water Management Research Unit, on the Limited Irrigation Research Farm, near Greeley, Colorado from 2008 to 2014.

Printed in the United States of America.

v

Contents

Foreword viiPreface ixContributors 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 ChangeAdlul 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 ArgentinaJorge 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 ApplicationsL.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

vii

Foreword

Throughout the drier regions of the world, the competition for water between urban, industrial, and agricultural uses is becoming intense. Increasing population and changing weather and climate will continue to increase the pressure on water resources, demanding that all water use become more efficient. Agriculture will always remain a target as water resources are prioritized, since agriculture uses the largest fraction of avail-able water in water limited regions. In addition to being more efficient in using water supplies developed for irrigated agriculture, there is a great need for research seeking ways for crops to be more efficient in the use of soil-stored water derived from precipitation. We remind the audience that globally about 80% of agriculture is rainfed agriculture; therefore, meeting future agricultural production water needs will be largely dependent on using existing water supplies more efficiently.

This book examines a number of different approaches to enhancing water use for a number of important crops, including cultural practices such as circular planting to enhance rainfall capture, tillage, and cover crops, in a range of different cropping systems, climates, and production systems. The title Practical Applications of Agricultural System Models to Optimize the Use of Limited Water is very descriptive of the range of subjects covered. This book connects models and modeling to the real world, addressing many of the tools available to conserve and enhance water use, while uti-lizing experimental data where available.

This volume represents a significant effort in the development of tested, process-based models to enhance our understanding and ability to man-age this key, limited resource.

David B. Mengel, 2014 ASA PresidentDavid D. Baltensperger, 2014 CSSA PresidentJan W. Hopmans, 2014 SSSA President

ix

Preface

Semiarid to arid regions of the world are major producers of food and fiber. Water is becoming a major limiting factor for agriculture in these regions because of increased urban and industrial use, more frequent droughts, cli-mate warming, and limits to this precious natural resource. At the same time, there is a need to produce even more food for the growing popu-lation, which requires more water. To obtain the most production from available water, while maintaining natural resources, we need whole system–based quantitative knowledge and tools to help select appropri-ate crops and manage water and associated inputs at different locations on a site-specific basis under variable and changing climate. These tools should help guide decisions on appropriate crop sequences and optimal use of limited rainfall and irrigation water with respect to the amounts and timings of rainfall, critical crop growth stages, and weather conditions, as well as optimum use of nitrogen. Information is also needed to help deter-mine potential alternative crops that would be suitable during periods of droughts and help producers determine when to plant them. There is cur-rently great excitement about growing bioenergy crops, including oil seed crops and irrigated corn or other biomass crops. Effective decision support tools should also be able to evaluate the long-term economics of bioen-ergy crops and provide estimates and guidance to ensure that enough crop residues remain on the soil surface to minimize erosion and maintain soil organic matter and productivity.

Site-specific experimental information is available for limited locations, limited periods of time, and limited management options. Well-tested process models of cropping systems can extend field research results to long-term weather conditions, other climates and soils, and potential new management options and thus provide the whole system–based knowl-edge and management guides for different locations over variable weather and climate. The contributions to this volume present the applications of crop system models to help optimize the use of limited water and associ-ated nutrients and explore adaptations and mitigations for climate change under a variety of conditions.

Previous volumes of the ASA, SSSA, CSSA Advances in Agricultural Systems Modeling have been devoted to the transdisciplinary knowledge-gap areas of science, conceptual synthesis, and parameterization for agricultural sys-tem models. We will further address these areas in future volumes. Volume 5 is completely devoted to application of models to help optimize the use of limited water and associated management practices under various cli-mates. Case studies of applications presented in this volume will inspire further useful applications of models in the above areas, as well as in numerous other areas.

Beginning with this volume, we have also placed greater emphasis on orig-inality and quality of contributions by requiring that each contribution should include new useful applications of models, a description of appli-cations thus far with new synthesis of knowledge and experience, new or

improved concepts emerging from this synthesis, and/or new directions for model applications and research. Each submission has been reviewed anonymously by two to three reviewers and an editor and accepted on the basis of originality and the final contribution addressing any comments of the reviewers. This rigorous peer review is done to ensure contributors will get credit for their articles like a journal article. An attractive feature of this series compared with journals is that all articles in a volume are focused on one subject area. We openly solicited original contributions for this volume with the above-noted criteria via a call for contributions in the CSA News and via emails to several ASA Communities.

Lajpat R. Ahuja, Liwang Ma, and Robert J. Lascano, Editors

xi

ContributorsAggarwal, Pramod K. Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security - South Asia, International

Water Management Institute, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India (P.K.Aggarwal@cgiar.org)

Ahuja, Lajpat R. USDA-ARS, Agricultural Systems Research Unit, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D, Ste. 200 Fort Collins, CO 80526 (laj.ahuja@ars.usda.gov)

Andales, A.A. Dep. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1170 (Allan.Andales@colostate.edu).

Brun, François ACTA, INRA, UMR 1248 AGIR, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge - Auzeville, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, Cedex, France (francois.brun@acta.asso.fr)

Colaizzi, Paul D. USDA-ARS, Conservation and Production Research Lab., P.O. Drawer 10, 2300 Experiment Station Rd., Bushland, TX 79012-0010 (Paul.Colaizzi@ars.usda.gov).

Daudin, Gabriel Vita Consult, ZA du Pré Neuf, 19 rue du Pré Neuf, 44190 Gorges, France (gdaudin@vitaconsult.fr)

Delpuech, Xavier Inst. Français de la Vigne et du Vin, Pôle Rhône-Méditerranée, Domaine de Donadille, 30230 Rodilhan, France (xavier.delpuech@vignevin.com)

Derner, J.D. USDA-ARS, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, 8408 Hildreth Rd., Cheyenne, WY 82009-8899 (Justin.Derner@ars.usda.gov)

El-Mokh, F. Institut des Régions Arides, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia (F.mokh@yahoo.fr)Fang, Quan X. Agronomy College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Changcheng Rd. 700,

Chengyang District, Qingdao, Shandong, China, 266108 (fangqx@igsnrr.ac.cn)Fritschi, F.B. Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, 1-33 Agriculture Building,

Columbia, MO 65211 (fritschif@missouri.edu)Fujimaki, H. Arid Land Research Ctr., Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, 680-0001 Tottori,

Japan (fujimaki@alrc.tottori-u.ac.jp)Grassini, P. Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska, 377M, PLSH, 202 Keim

Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583 (pgrassini2@unl.edu)Inoue, M. Arid Land Research Ctr., Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, 680-0001 Tottori,

Japan (m11minoue@cpost.plala.or.jp)Islam, Adlul NRM Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, KAB-II, IARI Campus,

Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India (adlulislam@yahoo.com)Kakani, V.G. Dep. of Plant and Soil Sciences, 368 Agricultural Hall, Oklahoma State

University, Stillwater, OK 74078-6028 (v.g.kakani@okstate.edu)Kiniry, J.R. USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Lab., 808 E. Blackland Rd.,

Temple, TX 76502 (jim.kiniry@ars.usda.gov)Kumar, Soora

NareshCentre For Environment Science and Climate Resilient Agriculture, Indian

Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi 100 012, India (nareshkumar.soora@gmail.com)

Lascano, R.J. USDA-ARS, Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Unit, Cropping Systems Research Lab., 3810 4th St., Lubbock, TX 79415 (robert.lascano@ars.usda.gov)

Lecler, N.L. N.L. Lecler, Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station, P/Bag 7006, Trinagle Ngundu Rd., Chiredzi, Zimbabwe; also, Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa (nlecler@zsaes.org.zw)

Ma, L. USDA-ARS, Agricultural Systems Research Unit, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D, Ste. 200 Fort Collins, CO 80526 (Liwang.Ma@ars.usda.gov)

Meki, M.N. Blackland Research Lab., Texas Agrilife., 720 E. Blackland Rd., Temple, TX 76502 (nmeki@brc.tamus.edu)

Mercau, J.L. Grupo de Estudios Ambientales del Instituto de Matemática Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (GEA-IMASL) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), San Luis, Argentina (jorgemercau@gmail.com)

Nagaz, K. Inst. des Régions Arides, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia (nagaz.kameleddine@ira.rnrt.tn)Nelson, J.R. North Central Kansas Experiment Field, Dep. of Agronomy, Kansas State

University, 1300 60 Rd., Courtland, KS 66939Nielsen, David C. USDA-ARS, Central Plains Resources Management Research Unit, 40335

County Rd. GG, Akron, CO, 80720-0400 (david.nielsen@ars.usda.gov)Ollenburger, M. Plant Production Systems Group, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK

Wageningen,Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands (mollenburger@gmail.com)

Otegui, M.E. Inst. de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA-CONICET) and Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martin 4453 (C1417DSE), Buenos Aires, Argentina (otegui@agro.uba.ar)

Okazaki, M. Arid Land Research Ctr., Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, 680-0001 Tottori, Japan (alian_johns_wpc@yahoo.co.jp)

Roux, Sébastien INRA, UMR System, 2 Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France (sebastien.roux@supagro.inra.fr)

Saito, T. Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyamacho-Minami, Tottori 680-8550, Japan (tadaomi@muses.tottori-u.ac.jp)

Saseendran, S.A. USDA-ARS, Agricultural Systems Research Unit, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D, Ste. 200 Fort Collins, CO 80526 (Saseendran.anapalli@ars.usda.gov)

Schumacher, T.E. Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Box 2207A, Agricultural Hall–SAG 004, Brookings, SD 57007 (thomas.schumacher@sdstate.edu)

Shibata, M. Arid Land Research Ctr., Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, 680-0001 Tottori, Japan (viva-shiba@h2.dion.ne.jp)

Shirsath, Paresh Bhaskar

Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security - South Asia, International Water Management Institute, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India (p.bhaskar@cgiar.org)

Sikka, Alok K. NRM Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, KAB-II, IARI Campus, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India (aloksikka@yahoo.co.in)

Snapp, S. Dep. of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824 (snapp@msu.edu)

Subash, Nataraja Project Directorate for Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut 250 110, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India (nsubashpdfsr@gmail.com)

Tokumoto, I. Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1 Honjo-machi, Saga 840-8502, Japan (yasu@cc.saga-u.ac.jp)

Trout, Thomas J. USDA-ARS Water Management Research Unit, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D, Ste. 320 Fort Collins, CO 80526 (Thomas.Trout@ars.usda.gov)

Wallach, Daniel INRA, UMR 1248 AGIR, 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge–Auzeville, CS 52627, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, Cedex, France (wallach@toulouse.inra.fr)

Wang, Enli CSIRO Land and Water, Christian Lab., Clunies Ross St., Black Mountain ACT 2601, Australia (Enli.Wang@csiro.au)

Wery, Jacques Montpellier SupAgro, UMR System, 2 Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier Cedex 2, France (jacques.wery@supagro.inra.fr)

Yang, H. Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska, 377M, PLSH,, 202 Keim Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583 (hyang2@unl.edu)

Zilverberg, C.J. Dep. of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Northern Plains Biostress Lab. (SNP), Box 2140B, Brookings, SD 57007 (czilverberg@brc.tamus.edu)