Benjamin,
The only way I found to tune a little bit the leaf area using the current leaf area model in CERES-Maize is by manipulating PHINT (phyllochron interval) in your cultivar file. PHINT will determine the number of leaves simulated. A high value of PHINT will result in smaller number of leaves and smaller LAI. You will need to change simultaneously P1 and PHINT to change number of leaves while maintaining phenology (silking date). Of course, here is a trade off: how important is for you to simulate the correct leaf number?

The other avenue is to try with a new leaf area model such as:

Lizaso, J.I., W.D. Batchelor and M.E. Westgate. 2003. A leaf area model to simulate cultivar-specific expansion and senescence of maize leaves. Field Crops Research 80(1):1-17.

Hope this help. Regards,

Jon I. Lizaso
Agricultural & Biological Engineering
University of Florida
PO Box 110570
Gainesville, FL 32611-0570
(352) 392 1864 Ext 298


-----Original Message-----
From: DSSAT - Crop Models and Applications
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Benjamin Fehling
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 10:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: specific leaf area


Dear all Listserver-members,

a short question: is it possible to change specific leaf area for Maize in any
input file. My Leaf area index is always overpredicted, tops weight fits. When
changing is
possible what sideeffects have to be taken into account?
Thanks a lot in advance.

Benjamin

--
Benjamin Fehling
Botanisches Institut
Abt. Vegetationsökologie
Auf der Morgenstelle 3
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Tel. 07071/29-73234