>Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]> >Received: from HEARN.nic.SURFnet.nl by bae.griffin.peachnet.edu (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) > id KAA00320; Wed, 3 Jul 1996 10:00:16 -0400 >Received: from HEARN.NIC.SURFNET.NL by HEARN.nic.SURFnet.nl (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) > with BSMTP id 6418; Wed, 03 Jul 96 15:57:50 +0200 >Received: from NIC.SURFNET.NL (NJE origin LISTSERV@HEARN) by HEARN.NIC.SURFNET.NL (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 9405; Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:53:09 +0200 >Received: from NIC.SURFNET.NL by NIC.SURFNET.NL (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with > NJE id 9305 for [log in to unmask]; Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:52:55 > +0200 >Received: from HEARN (NJE origin SMTP@HEARN) by HEARN.NIC.SURFNET.NL (LMail > V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 9401; Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:52:53 +0200 >Received: from gatekeeper.agro.nl by HEARN.nic.SURFnet.nl (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) > with TCP; Wed, 03 Jul 96 15:52:46 +0200 >Received: by gatekeeper.agro.nl; id AA28594; Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:51:50 +0200 >Received: from ABW1 (ABW1) by AGRO.NL (PMDF V5.0-7 #12026) id > <[log in to unmask]> for [log in to unmask]; Wed, 03 Jul > 1996 15:52:28 +0000 (MED) >Received: from AB.DLO.NL by AB.DLO.NL (PMDF V4.3-7 #7552) id > <[log in to unmask]>; Wed, 03 Jul 1996 15:50:41 +0000 (GMT) >X-Vms-To: CAMASE-L >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT >Approved-By: "Ing. M.C. Plentinger, AB-DLO" <[log in to unmask]> >Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Wed, 3 Jul 1996 15:50:41 +0000 >Reply-To: Quantitative Methods of Research on Agricultural Systems and the > Environment <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: Quantitative Methods of Research on Agricultural Systems and the > Environment <[log in to unmask]> >From: "Ing. M.C. Plentinger, AB-DLO" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: CAMASE_NEWS No. 10, June 1996 >To: Multiple recipients of list CAMASE-L <[log in to unmask]> > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% > > N E W S L E T T E R > > O F > > A G R O - E C O S Y S T E M S > > M O D E L L I N G > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% > Published by AB-DLO June 1996, No.10 > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% > > \==================================================================\ > \ \ > \ CONTENTS \ > \ \ > \ REGISTER OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS MODELS \ > \ \ > \ ANNOUNCEMENTS \ > \ Plant morphogenesis & activities of \ > \ organisms on plants on WWW \ > \ Join us on AGROMET-L \ > \ \ > \ FORTHCOMING MEETINGS \ > \ European Society for Agronomy, ESA 4th Congress \ > \ 1996 International Meeting of the American Society of \ > \ Agricultural Engineers \ > \ Modelling water flow and solute transport in the \ > \ soil-water-plant-atmosphere system \ > \ Wind Erosion: An International Symposium/Workshop \ > \ Workshop "Modern Problems in Agro-ecosystem Modeling" \ > \ \ > \ NEW BOOKS \ > \ 8 new articles, books, and PhD thesis \ > \ \ > \ THE MARKET PLACE, WITH: \ > \ Theoretical and practical testing of the \ > \ CROPSYST crop growth model \ > \ PhD projects \ > \==================================================================\ > > ==================================================================== > EDITORIAL > > This is already the tenth issue of the Newsletter. These is > never a shortage of information and news. But do not hesitate > to send us suggestions of things you would like all included. > > Frits Penning de Vries, > Marja Plentinger > ==================================================================== > > * * * > > REGISTER OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS MODELS > > k e y w o r d s: > m o d e l s > m o d u l e s > d a t a b a s e s > > On the World Wide Web with URL: http://www.co.dlo.nl/camase > CAMASE keeps a database of model descriptions from all over > the world. > > We expanded the database last week, and will update all > entries later this year. > > If your model is not yet there: you are most welcome to join us. > > > * * * > > ANNOUNCEMENTS > > k e y w o r d s: > p l a n t m o r p h o g e n e s i s > o r g a n i s m s o n p l a n t s > a g r o m e t e o r o l o g y > a g r o c l i m a t o l o g y > > > * PLANT MORPHOGENESIS & ACTIVITIES OF ORGANISMS ON PLANTS ON WWW > Programs for acquiring and processing 3-D information on plant > morphogenesis and activities of organisms on plants, as well > as programs for handling "plant map" data on topological > structure of plants, will be available shortly at: > > http://www.ctpm.uq.oz.au/Programs/InsectPlant.html > > http://www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/projects/bmv/vlab/index.html > > Contact > Dr. P.M. Room > Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Pest Management, > CSIRO Division of Entomology, P.O.Box 3, Indooroopilly Q4068, > Australia. > Telephone: +617.3214.2700 > Telefax: +617.3214.2885 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * JOIN US ON AGROMET-L > This is to announce the a new WMO/FAO sponsored discussion > list on agrometeorology and agroclimatology. > > Users can subscribe to the list by sending an e-mail to > > [log in to unmask], > > leaving the subject blank, and entering the line below in the > body of the message: > > subscribe AGROMET-L > > The welcome message will provide more details about the list. > > > * * * > > FORTHCOMING MEETINGS > > * EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR AGRONOMY, ESA 4TH CONGRESS > European Society for Agronomy > ESA 4th Congress 7 - 11 July 1996 > Veldhoven - Wageningen, The Netherlands > > The fourth Congress of the European Society for Agronomy (ESA) > will be held from 7-11 July 1996 in the Congress centre > Koningshof in Veldhoven, The Netherlands. > > Sessions > A General Plenary Session will address: > Land use, natural resources and agricultural production in an > expanding Europe. > > Thereafter three main themes will be introduced in a plenary > session, and elaborated in parallel oral and poster sessions: > - Agro-ecological studies and climate change > - Integrated and ecological agriculture > - Dynamics of nutrients and organic matter > A productive mix with subjects channelled through the existing > Scientific Divisions of ESA is planned. > > You will find more information on World Wide Web: > http://www.ab.dlo.nl/AB/ESAgro/ > > Organizing secretariat > If you are interested in the Congress or its theme, please > contact the organizing secretariat: > Kongresservice Brabant > P.O.Box 140 > NL-5500 AC Veldhoven > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.40.2547171 > Telefax: +31.40.2545515 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * 1996 INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF > AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS > The 1996 International ASAE meeting will be held on July > 14-18, 1996 in Phoenix, Arizona. > > Contact > David Bosch > USDA-ARS > Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory > P.O.Box 946 > Tifton > Georgia 31793 > United States. > Telephone: +1.912.386.3515 > Telefax: +1.912.386.7294 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * MODELLING WATER FLOW AND SOLUTE TRANSPORT IN THE > SOIL-WATER-PLANT-ATMOSPHERE SYSTEM > International Postgraduate Training Course 'Modelling water > flow and solute transport in the soil-water-plant-atmosphere > system'. > Wageningen, 18-23 November 1996 > > The course is organized by the International Training Centre > (PHLO), Wageningen Agricultural University in cooperation with > the Department of Water Resources of Wageningen Agricultural > University and the DLO Winand Staring Centre in Wageningen. > > Information > Further information can be obtained from: > Wageningen Agricultural University > International Training Centre (PHLO) > P.O.Box 8130 > 6700 EW Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.484092 / 484093 > Telefax: +31.317.426547 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * WIND EROSION: AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM/WORKSHOP > Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the USDA's Wind Erosion > Research at Kansas State University > Manhattan, Kansas, USA > 3-5 June 1997 > > Background > This symposium is held in commemoration of the 50th > anniversary of the USDA's Wind Erosion Research at Kansas > State University. The purpose is to bring together leading > scientists, conservationists, and policy makers to: identify > the present and future wind erosion threat to sustainability; > summarize current understanding of wind erosion processes, > prediction, and control; identify societal needs and develop > strategies for sustaining agriculture, protecting the > environment, and conserving the natural resource against the > ravages of wind erosion. > > Program > Scientists, engineers and conservationists are invited to > present papers and/or attend sessions related to the > occurrence, measurement, and prediction and control of wind > erosion and related processes and consequences. Plenary, > concurrent, and poster sessions are planned. > Keynote addresses will feature various aspects of wind > erosion. > > Additional information, (e-mail preferred) > USDA-ARS, NPA, Wind Erosion Research Unit, Throckmorton Hall, > Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 United States. > Telephone: +1.913.532 6528 > Telefax: +1.913.532 6495 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > World Wide Web URL: http://www.weru.ksu.edu/ > > * WORKSHOP "MODERN PROBLEMS IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEM MODELING" > Laboratory of Agro-ecosystem Simulation > Agrophysical Research Institute > June 21-26, 1997 > St.-Petersburg, Russia > > In 1997 will be fulfilled the 30th anniversary of the > Laboratory of Agro-ecosystem Simulation, Agrophysical Research > Institute, St.-Petersburg. During the last two decades the > Laboratory deals with the development of mathematical models > in agriculture and agro-ecology as well as the theoretical > investigation of related phenomena in ecology, physics and > biology. The Laboratory staff plans to organize the Jubilee > International Workshop: "The Modern Problems in Agro-ecosystem > Modeling". The Workshop will be held at the end of June, 1997 > in Agrophysical Research Institute, St.-Petersburg, Russia. > > Areas of interest > - New approaches to mathematical description of processes > taking place in the soil, atmosphere and plant canopy. > - Modern tendencies and non-traditional applications of > ecosystem simulation models (Ecological Monitoring, Climate > Change Impact onto Agro-ecosystems, Energy Crops, Agriculture > on Contaminated Areas, Sustainable Agriculture etc.). > - The competition of the models on the base of previously > adjusted set of experimental data is planned. > > << The end of June is the best time in the beautiful city > St.-Petersburg. It is the time of famous "White Nights". The > visit to St.-Petersburg at this period gives magic > impressions. >> > > For more details contact > Prof. R.A. Poluektov > Agrophysical Research Institute > 14 Grazhdansky prospect > 195220 St.-Petersburg > Russia. > Telephone: +7.812.534 4640 > Telefax: +7.812.535 5220 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > > * * * > > NEW BOOKS > > * Veldkamp, A. & L.O. Fresco, 1996. CLUE: a conceptual model > to study the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects. > Ecological modelling 85: 253-270 > > Abstract > A dynamic model to simulate Conversion of Land Use and its > Effects (CLUE) is presented. For an imaginary region, CLUE > simulates land use conversion and change in space and time as > a result of interacting biophysical and human drivers. Within > CLUE regional land use changes only if biophysical and human > demands cannot be met by existing land use. After a regional > assessment of land use needs, the final land use decisions are > made on a local grid level. Important biophysical drivers are > local biophysical suitability and their fluctuations, land use > history, spatial distribution of infrastructure and land use, > and the occurrence of pests and diseases. Important human land > use drivers in CLUE are population size and density, regional > and international technology level, level of affluence, target > markets for products, economical conditions, attitudes and > values, and the applied land use strategy. Initial CLUE > simulation suggest that the integrated land use approach of > CLUE can make a more realistic contribution to predictions of > future land cover than currently used biophysical equilibrium > approaches. > > Contact > A. Veldkamp > Wageningen Agricultural University > Dept. Soil Science and Geology > P.O.Box 37 > 6700 AA Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.484145 / 484410 > Telefax: +31.317.482419 > > Prof.dr.ir. L.O. Fresco > Wageningen Agricultural University > Dept. Agronomy > P.O.Box 341 > 6700 AH Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.483040 > Telefax: +31.317.484575 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * Ven, G.W.J. van de, 1996. A mathematical approach to > comparing environmental and economic goals in dairy farming on > sandy soils in the Netherlands. PhD Thesis, Wageningen > Agricultural University, The Netherlands. 240 pp. > ISBN: 90-5485-489-8 > > Abstract > A Dairy Farming Model was developed to screen the potentials > for development of dairy farming on sandy soils in the > Netherlands with respect to environmental, agro-technical and > economic demands. The Dairy Farming Model consists of > technical coefficient generators (TCG models) and an > interactive multiple goal linear programming model (IMGLP > model). The TCG models have been used to quantify input-output > coefficients for a wide range of production techniques for > grass, maize, fodder beet and milk. The results of the TCG > models have been used in the IMGLP model, that optimizes the > set of production techniques with respect to the goals > defined. > The model has been applied to a fictitious region with sandy > soils. The analysis shows that dairy farming can meet both > economic and environmental goals, as set by the government for > the year 2000. However, this requires a reduction in labour > income. Many different dairy farming systems are possible. A > few general characteristics are: low N application on grazed > grassland, a large proportion of the animals housed in > low-emission stables and a substantial part of the > concentrates produces in the region itself. > Application of the Dairy Farming Model to the situation at the > experimental dairy farm 'De Marke' has shown that the model is > suited for exploring the opportunities for the development of > dairy farming at a specific location, provided it can be > initialized for that situation. Initial farm lay-out and > measures taken at 'De Marke' have been evaluated. > Additional keywords: grassland, maize, fodder beet, > environment, economics, landscape, nitrogen, phosphorus, > modelling, linear programming > > Contact > Dr. G.W.J. van de Ven > Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO) > P.O.Box 14 > 6700 AA Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.475939 > Telefax: +31.317.423110 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * Bouma, J., A. Kuyvenhoven, B.A.M. Bouman, J.C. Luyten & H.G. > Zandstra (Eds.), 1995. Eco-regional approaches for sustainable > land use and food production. Proceedings of a symposium on > eco-regional approaches in agricultural research, 12-16 > December 1994, ISNAR, The Hague. Systems approaches for > sustainable agricultural development, v. 4. Kluwer Academic > Publishers in cooperation with International Potato Center > (CIP). 505 pp. > ISBN: 0-7923-3608-9 (hardback). > > Abstract > In the coming decades the world will need to more than double > its food and feed production, almost all of the increase being > needed in developing countries. This has socio-economic and > biophysical implications. Traditional component and commodity > research addresses overly narrow issues at too small a scale. > Rural development needs an eco-regional approach that > integrates biophysical and socio-economic work on cropping > systems, livestock, the environment, and natural resources. > This book contains the papers, response papers and discussion > report of a five-day seminar on eco-regional approaches. It > assesses the state of the art of systems approaches applied to > eco-regional problems, presenting and discussing a number of > case studies. Future research needs are discussed, as well as > ways to improve collaboration between research institutes. > The seminar on which the book is based was organised on behalf > of the Directorate General for International Cooperation of > the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Research > Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO), the > Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU), and the > International Potato Center (CIP). It was held at the > International Service for National Agricultural Research > (ISNAR), and was attended by participants from all CGIAR > centres, among others. > > Sold and distributed > In the U.S.A. and Canada by: > Kluwer Academic Publishers, 101 Philip Drive, Norwell, MA > 02061, United States. > In all other countries, sold and distributed by Kluwer > Academic Publishers Group, > P.O.Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands. > > * Bouman, B.A.M., March 1996. Remote sensing subroutines in > crop growth simulation models. Quantitative Approaches in > Systems Analysis No. 3. DLO Research Institute for Agrobiology > and Soil Fertility & The C.T. de Wit Graduate School for > Production Ecology, The Netherlands. 39 pp. > ISBN 90-73384-40-0 > NUGI 835 > > New issue Quantitative Approaches in Systems Analysis > Recently, the third issue in the series Quantitative > Approaches in Systems Analysis (QUASA) appeared: Remote > sensing subroutines in crop growth simulation models. This > report is meant for researchers that study (optical and radar) > remote sensing of agricultural crops for purpose such as > classification, growth monitoring and yield prediction. The > report describes the implementation of optical and radar > remote sensing models as Fortran subroutines, and their > linkage with crop growth simulation models that are written in > the Fortran Simulation Environment (FSE), version 2.1 (see > first issue of QUASA: The FSE system for crop simulation; > D.W.G. van Kraalingen). The optical remote sensing routines > are based on the models EXTRAD and CLAIR, and on empirical > relationships between Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the Vegetation > Index WDVI. The radar remote sensing routines are based on the > one- and two-layer Cloud model. The remote sensing routines > are incorporated in so-called 'interfaces', subroutines that > can be called from crop growth models and that take care of > computations on variables that are needed in the remote > sensing routines. The interfaces are also written in FSE 2.1, > and have been implemented in FSE-SUCROS models for sugar beet, > wheat and potato. > > The report, and the described software, are available from: > B.A.M. Bouman > Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO) > P.O.Box 14 > 6700 AA Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.475972 > Telefax: +31.317.423110 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > Quantitative Approaches in Systems Analysis are issued by the > DLO Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility > (AB-DLO) and The C.T. de Wit Graduate School for Production > Ecology (PE). > > The address for ordering other copies of this series is: > H.E. de Ruiter > Wageningen Agricultural University > Department of Theoretical Production Ecology > P.O.Box 430 > 6700 AK Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * Maracchi, G., L. Fibbi & M. Bindi, 1996. A guide to data and > software sources for applied climatology on Internet. European > School of Climatology and Natural Hazards 'A course on climate > change impact on Agriculture and Forestry'. Volterra, Pisa, > Italy. 16-24 March 1996. 81 pp. > > Contents > This manual attempts to provide essential information at a > technical level suitable for those who start to work on > different applications of Climatology including: data sources, > data processing, data representations, etc. For this purpose a > research on Internet has been performed to look for > information on the main available climatic data banks and > software packages. For each topic a brief description of its > characteristics and Internet address of the institutions and > people who may be contacted are provided. Further information > and demos, however, are available at Internet addresses > reported for each topic and in a companion guide "Researching > Meteo Data for Agrometeorology on the Internet" printed within > of COST actions 711-77-79. > The work is organised into 4 sections. The first section > summarises the wide range of sources available for > meteorological data. Other sections provide a general overview > of the main software packages available on the market for data > organisation, data processing, spatial and cartographic > representation and other climatological applications. > > Contact > Prof. G. Maracchi > I.A.T.A. - C.N.R. > Institute of Agrometeorology and Environmental Analysis for > Agriculture > Piazzale delle Cascine 18 > I-50144 Firenze, Italy. > Telephone: +39.55.354895/7 > Telefax: +39.55.350833/332472 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * Wopereis, M.C.S., B.A.M. Bouman, T.P. Tuong, H.F.M. ten > Berge & M.J. Kropff, February 1996. ORYZA_W: rice growth model > for irrigated and rainfed environments. Wageningen: > DLO-Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility; > Wageningen: WAU-Department of Theoretical Production Ecology; > Los Banos: International Rice Research Institute. SARP > Research Proceedings. 159 pp. > ISBN: 90-73384-39-7 > NUGI: 835 > > Preface > This volume of the SARP Research Proceedings presents ORYZA_W > version 3.0, a simulation model for irrigated and rainfed rice > production. The above-ground crop growth part of ORYZA_W is > based on ORYZA1, version 1.3, described in another volume of > this series. > ORYZA_W provides the user with a choice of three > one-dimensional soil-water balance modules: PADDY, SAHEL and > LOWBAL. SAHEL and LOWBAL are already familiar to researchers > in the SARP network. Use of these two modules is, however, > limited to specific environments. SAHEL was developed for > freely draining 'upland' rice soils with a deep groundwater > table and LOWBAL for 'lowland' rice soils with a hard plow > sole (impenetrable for roots) and a deep groundwater tale. > Because of their frequent use in SARP, SAHEL and LOWBAL are > explained in detail in this volume. PADDY was especially > developed to provide the user with a universal soil-water > balance module. It can handle any soil condition (puddled / > non-puddled, free draining / impeded drainage, cracking / > non-cracking) in irrigated and rainfed rice growing > environments, and can also be used in rice / non-rice > rotations. All soil-water balance modules presented here work > with time steps of 1 day. We hope that ORYZA_W will prove to > be of value for your research. > > Further information > Dr.ir. H.F.M. ten Berge > Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO) > P.O.Box 14 > 6700 AA Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telephone: +31.317.475951 / 475953 > Telefax: +31.317.423110 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > * Habekotte, B., 1996. Winter oilseed rape: analysis of yield > formation and crop type design for higher yield potential. PhD > Thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands. > 156 pp. > ISBN: 90-5485-514-2 > > Abstract > The study described in this thesis focuses on quantifying the > seed yield formation of winter oilseed rape and on identifying > crop traits and combinations of traits for increasing seed > potential in North-West Europe, by combining experimental > research with crop growth simulation. > The model was used to identify options for increasing seed > yield potential. Comparison with the higher-yielding reference > crop, winter wheat, showed determining components. Crop traits > and combinations of traits were identified to obtain higher > values in these components. Finally, high-yielding crop types > were designed and tested in simulations for various locations > in North-West Europe and showed good prospects for increasing > seed yield potential. > > Contact > Dr. B. Habekotte > Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO) > P.O.Box 14 > 6700 AA Wageningen > The Netherlands. > Telefax: +31.317.423110 > > * Meinke, H., 1996. Improving wheat simulation capabilities in > Australia from a cropping systems perspective. Thesis Landbouw > Universiteit Wageningen. - With ref. - With summary in Dutch. > 270 pp. > ISBN: 90-5485-511-8 > > Abstract > A methodology to objectively compare model components within a > cropping systems model is introduced. It allows effective and > efficient comparisons of modelling approaches with the help of > a versatile cropping systems shell. This highly modular > simulation environment allows inclusion of desired modules at > the click of a button. The methodology is applied to some key > wheat models currently in use for systems analysis and > decision support in Australia. Thus, comprehensive data sets > for model testing were required. One such data set, comprising > various levels of applied nitrogen and water, is analysed > using a crop physiological framework that provides all > necessary parameter values for inclusion into a predictive > wheat model of intermediate complexity. > Among others, it will be applied in Australia to investigate > options for manipulating either the crop or the cropping > system as an aid to pursuing improved sustainable farming > practices. > > Contact > Holger Meinke > DPI/CSIRO > Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit > P.O.Box 102 > Toowoomba > QLD 4350 Australia. > Telephone: +61.76.314378 > Telefax: +61.76.332678 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > > * * * > > THE MARKET PLACE > > Do you feel that the research of your team is insufficiently > known? In this section, we welcome a short description of your > systems research group. We will also welcome offers of > specific expertise or data, and calls for the same. > > * THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL TESTING OF THE CROPSYST CROP GROWTH > MODEL > CROPSYST (Stockle and Nelson, 1994, 1996) is designated as an > user-friendly, conceptually simple model and as an analytical > tool to study the effect of cropping system management on > productivity and environment. > The findings of 4 months spent at DLO-Research Institute for > Agrobiology and Soil Fertility of Wageningen (The Netherlands) > to test CROPSYST are reported below. > With respect to crop growth testing (winter wheat), CROPSYST > showed a high skill in predicting flowering date, a quite > general inability to simulate green leaf area index, a general > tendency in underestimating above ground biomass (less > accentuated at the end of the growing season). With respect to > technical testing (system and code) an incomplete level of > documentation (unupdated manual and undocumented parameters), > an incomplete ability in preventing strange behaviour under > limit and impossible conditions, large discontinuities in many > parameters, lack of mass and energy balances (except for > nitrogen transport) were pointed out. CROPSYST interface > proved to be transparent and directly accessible to the model > users. Therefore, thanks to this model the analysis of the > experiments was performed easily with a depth and accuracy > following the evolution of the crop under the influence of > variable and fluctuating environmental conditions. This is due > to the fact that CROPSYST requires input parameters easily > available through the normal agronomic practice. Such a simple > approach and the transparent interface play an important role > in ensuring that a great number of potential model users can > be reached, increasing the impact of system analysis to > agriculture. It is hoped that this program will not remain > inside a closed group of people, as commonly happens. > > Dr. Gianni Bellocchi > > Dipartimento di Agronomia e Gestione dell'Agroecosistema > via S. Michele degli Scalzi, 2 > 56124 Pisa > Italy. > Telephone: +39.50.599111 > Telefax: +39.50.540633 > Internet:[log in to unmask] > > * PHD PROJECTS > In this section we would like to make some room for PhD > project topics of students around the world. Just send us your > name, the PhD project topic, the supervisor, and Internet > address. In future the list of PhD topics will be put on the > World Wide Web pages of CAMASE. > > The topic was suggested by mr. Mohammed Bannayan Avval, who > send us the list the following people at his office at the > University of Nottingham. > > - Students name: Mr. J.P. Absalom. > PhD topic: Radiocasmium fixation dynamics in upland soils; > measurement and modelling. > Supervisor: Dr. N. Crout, and dr. S.D. Young. > Finish date: September, 1995. > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > - Students name: Mr. M. Bannayan Avval. > PhD topic: Winter wheat yield, modelling and forecasting. > Supervisor: Dr. N. Crout > Finish date: April 1998. > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > - Students name: Mr. A. Guilett. > PhD topic: Predictive information on plant development in > relation to yield and quality. > Supervisor: Dr. N. Crout, and dr. R. Sylvester-Bradley. > Finish date: June, 1996. > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > - Students name: Mr. J. Turnpenny. > PhD topic: Impact of climate change on the energy balance of > livestock. > Supervisor: Dr. J. Clark. > Finish date: October, 1997. > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > ==================================================================== > CAMASE: A CONCERTED ACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING > OF QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR RESEARCH 0N AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS > AND THE ENVIRONMENT. > > CAMASE is financially supported by the European Community > Specific Programme for Research, Technological Development and > Demonstration in the Field of Agriculture and Agro-industry, > including Fisheries. > > The objectives of CAMASE are to advance quantitative > research on agricultural systems and their environment in the > EU-countries, by improving systems research in participating > institutes through exchange and standardization of concepts, > approaches, knowledge, computer programs and data. > CAMASE relates to a small network of research groups, and a > broad group of scientists receiving information. The network > consists of scientists from five groups in Europe: Denmark > (Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen), > France (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, > Toulouse), Spain (Cordoba University, Cordoba), Scotland > (Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, Edinburgh) and > The Netherlands (AB-DLO, TPE-WAU and SC-DLO, Wageningen). > > With CAMASE_NEWS, we aim to improve communication among > scientists working in agro-ecosystem modelling and interested > in better access to appropriate models, data, and related > tools, instruction materials. CAMASE-core groups and others > can contribute spontaneously or will be invited to contribute. > Responsibility for the opinions expressed rests with the > authors. > > CAMASE_NEWS will appear four times per year. Please submit > news items for CAMASE_NEWS and requests for new subscriptions > to: > > F.W.T. Penning de Vries/M.C. Plentinger > DLO Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility > (AB-DLO) > P.O.Box 14 > 6700 AA WAGENINGEN > The Netherlands > Telephone: +31.317.475961 > Telefax: +31.317.423110 > Internet: [log in to unmask] > > After an e-mail request for subscription, you will receive > a form to give your address, which is necessary for postal > mailings. > ==================================================================== > ======================================================================= Gerrit Hoogenboom Associate Professor Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering The University of Georgia Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797, USA Phone: 770-228-7216 FAX: 770-228-7218 E-mail: [log in to unmask] =======================================================================