Juan,

The present DSSAT models do not simulate intercrops or differential height
competition for light interception (dry matter accumulation) purposes.  So,
you can not do it in the DSSAT models.

To do this correctly, you would need to predict the height of each crop and
the corresponding (and competing) vertical LAI distribution of each
component.  I recommend that you see the approach followed in the INTERCOM
model of Martin Kropff, Wageningen Agricultural University, The
Netherlands.  His model predicts those aspects of species competition
nicely, but probably does not go to final yield like you would
like.  Martin Kropff did write one of those Wageningen special publications
on the topic.  Either Pudoc Publications (Wageningen in-house) or Halstead
Press.

Can anyone give us the full citation of Kropff's book and where to order?

Ken Boote


At 11:37 PM 6/7/04 -0700, you wrote:
>  My name is Juan and I am trying to simulate the performances of a
> wheat/soybean intercrop.  The design of the intercrop (or relay
> intercrop) is 3:1 and has a distance of 75cm, I have 3 rows of wheat to
> 17,5cm of distance and 1 row of soy to 17,5cm of distance from the rows
> of wheat and again the same design.  The soy is sown 30 days before the
> harvest of the wheat.  Because of the design, the wheat fails to capture
> the totality of the radiation and the soy grows inside the wheat during
> 25-30 days until the wheat harvest and during this period the
>soy receives less radiation than the one that would receive it if sown alone.
>Any idea for this simulation is welcome.
>Greetings Juan Pablo Monzon