For your information:
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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
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Published by AB-DLO March 1994, No.1
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\ CONTENTS \
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\ REGISTER OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS MODELS \
\ ANNOUNCEMENTS \
\ UPCOMING MEETINGS \
\ NEW BOOKS \
\ THE MARKET PLACE, WITH: \
\ MODELLING AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN WAGENINGEN \
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EDITORIAL
CAMASE_NEWS is a new Newsletter. It is aimed at scientists
interested in modelling in agro-ecosystems, and should improve
their access to appropriate models, data, and related tools,
instruction materials. Initially, we focus at EU-12 scientists.
CAMASE_NEWS will provide short, informative messages on modelling
and simulation issues and developments, a report on progress in
the model register (more below) and other data bases,
announcements, and calls for collaboration. Hard copies and
electronic copies of CAMASE_NEWS are distributed every quarter to
those on our mailing list (already over 100 names). The Newsletter
is also available through the SURFNET distribution list 'CAMASE-L';
back dated issues and specific items can be retrieved with
keywords.
CAMASE_NEWS is the result of an initiative of the 1992 workshop on
Modelling and Agroclimatology of the European Society for
Agronomy, and is supported by a grant of the European Union for
the Concerted Action to stimulate development and testing of
quantitative Methods for research on Agricultural Systems and the
Environment (CAMASE).
Our thanks are due to ESA, for help in producing the initial mailing
list, and to Ruud Verkerke, for the design of CAMASE_NEWS.
Frits Penning de Vries,
Marja Plentinger
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* * *
THE REGISTER OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS MODELS
k e y w o r d s:
s i m u l a t i o n, m o d e l s,
m o d e l l i n g t o o l s,
d a t a b a s e,
s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n
CAMASE is setting up a register of models. We will attempt to
catalogue most of the relevant simulation models for research,
education and application used in Europe in the broad area of crop
production, nutrient cycling, farming systems, and of many of the
shells and tools for modelling. In this way, we intend
- to increase awareness among scientists of existing models;
- to increase accessibility of these models;
- to stimulate harmonization and compatibility of models by example.
In the register, every model is described in a fixed format in
about one page. It will have the form of a computerized data base
of model profiles, accessible through a network. Initially the
information from the Register will be free.
The next issue of CAMASE_NEWS will introduce the Register
properly, with an example. We hope that you will share with us and
other European colleagues the information about your models.
* * *
ANNOUNCEMENTS
k e y w o r d s:
C A M A S E, c o r e g r o u p s,
p r o d u c t i o n s y s t e m s r e s e a r c h,
m o d e l l i n g, n e w s l e t t e r,
r e g i s t e r, d i s t r i b u t i o n l i s t
CAMASE is an EU-supported concerted action of five European groups
that are leading in the area of production systems research. The
core groups for CAMASE are:
- the Copenhagen research team (Denmark): leadings drs. Niels Erik
Nielsen, Soren Hansen, Henry E. Jensen (The Royal Veterinary and
Agricultural University); strength in modelling nitrogen losses
and crop growth and production.
- the Toulouse research team (France): leading dr. Philippe Debaeke
and Mr. Maurice Cabelguenne, Institute National de la Recherche
Agronomique; strength in modelling crop production systems.
- the Cordoba research team (Spain), leading dr. Francisco
Villalobos (Universidad de Cordoba, Dept. Agronomy) and dr.
Luciano Mateos (CSIC, Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible);
strength in modelling irrigation systems.
- the Edinburgh research team (U.K.): leading prof.dr. Barry Dent
and dr. Graham Russell, University of Edinburgh; strength in farm
household modelling and expert systems.
- the Wageningen research teams (The Netherlands), coordinated by
dr. Peter Leffelaar (Agricultural University, Theoretical
Production Ecology), dr. Aad van Wijk (DLO-Winand Staring Centre)
and dr. Frits Penning de Vries (DLO-Institute for Agrobiology and
Soil Fertility Research); strengths in modeling crop and soil
processes, dynamics of pests and weeds, crop production systems,
methodology, training.
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. Specific objective are:
- to produce a newsletter
- to produce a model register
- to stimulate research on production systems.
CAMASE started in November 1993, and has been funded for three
years. Marja Plentinger and Frits Penning de Vries coordinate the
project. We held our first workshop with core teams in December,
where plans were developed to achieve the three objectives. The
ESA-congress provides a good opportunity to review the first
issues of the Newsletter and the first versions of the Register.
DISTRIBUTION LIST. We received requests for copies of the
CAMASE_NEWS mailing list. Please let us know if you prefer that
your name is excluded from such copies.
* * *
UPCOMING MEETINGS
- International Symposium on Fingered Flow in Unsaturated Soil: from
Field to Model. DLO-Winand Staring Centre, Wageningen, 20 April
1994.
Contact: Drs. C.J. Ritsema, DLO-Winand Staring Centre, P.O.Box 125,
6700 AC Wageningen, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31-8370-74266
Telefax: +31-8370-24812
- Ecology and Modelling of Potato Crops under Conditions Limiting
Growth. Summer School, Second International Modelling Conference
17, 18 and 19 May 1994.
Contact: dr. A.J. Haverkort, Department of Crop Physiology, DLO-
Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility, P.O. Box 14
6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31-8370-75855
Telefax: +31-8370-23110
or: dr. J. Vos, Department of Agronomy, Agricultural University,
Haarweg 333, 6709 RZ Wageningen, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31-8370-83042
Telefax: +31-8370-84575
- The Third International Conference for Systems Integration. Sao
Paulo City - Brazil. July 30 th - August 6th 1994.
Contact: Prof. Peter A. Ng, IIISis -USA Office- New Jersey Inst.
of Technology, University of Heights, Newark, NJ 07102 USA
Telephone: (1)(201) 596-3387
Telefax: (1)(201) 596-5777
Or: Prof. Fuad Gattaz Sobrinho
Telephone: (55)(192) 41-4504
Telefax: (55)(192) 41-3098
- Scenario Studies for the Rural Environment. 5th anniversary
symposium of the DLO-Winand Staring Centre. Wageningen, 12-15
September 1994.
Themes: Regional soil and water management, nature development and
landscape quality, and impact of scenario studies on land use
planning.
Contact: dr. J.F.T. Schoute, DLO Winand Staring Centre, P.O. Box
125, 6700 AC Wageningen, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31-8370-74274
Telefax: +31-8370-24812
- The third Congress of the European Society for Agronomy will be
held at the Teatro Congressi of Abano Terme (Padova), 18-22
September, 1994. Special workshops on Modeling and
Agroclimatology.
Contact (Secretariat): SISTEMA CONGRESSI, Via Jappelini 12, 35121
PADOVA, ITALY
Telephone: +39-49-651699
Telefax: +39-49-651320
* * *
NEW BOOKS
- AARD/LAWOO. 1993. Acid Sulphate Soils in the Humid Tropics:
simulation model of physical and chemical processes to evaluate
water management strategies. Final Report Res. Progr. Acid
Sulphate Soils in the Humid Tropics, vol 3. Agency for
Agricultural Research and Development (AARD), Jakarta and Land and
Water Research Group (LAWOO), Wageningen. 248 pp..
- Goudriaan, J., S.C. van de Geijn & J.S.I. Ingram (Eds.), 1993.
GCTE Focus 3 Wheat Modelling and Experimental Data Comparison
Workshop Report. Lunteren, Netherlands 2-4 November 1993. GCTE
(Global Change & Terrestrial Ecosystems).
- Hansen, S., H.E. Jensen, N.E. Nielsen & H. Svendsen, 1994. The
Soil Plant System Model DAISY: Basic principles and modelling
approach. Jordbrugsforlaget. The Royal Vetenary and Agricultur
University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark,
pp. 137, DEK 100,00.
- Kropff, M.J. & H.H. van Laar (eds.), 1993. Modelling crop - weed
interactions. Wallingford: CAB International. 274 p..
- Leffelaar, P.A. (Ed.), 1993. On systems analysis and simulation of
ecological processes. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht,
Netherlands 308 pp..
- Nonhebel, S., 1993. The importance of weather data in crop growth
simulation models and assessment of climatic change effects. PhD
thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University. 144 pp..
- Noij, I.G.A.M., B.H. Janssen, L.G. Wesselink & J.J.M. van
Grinsven, 1993. Modeling Nutrient and Moisture Cycling in Tropical
Forests. The Tropenbos Foundation. Wageningen. 195 pp.
ISBN 90-5113-016-3.
- Rossing, W.A.H., 1993. On damage, uncertainty and risk in
supervised control: aphids and brown rust in winter wheat as an
example. PhD thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University. 201 pp..
- Smaling, E., 1993. An agro-ecological framework for integrated
nutrient management, with special reference to Kenya. PhD thesis,
Wageningen Agricultural University. 250 pp..
- Teng, P.S. & F. Penning de Vries (eds.), 1992. Systems approaches
for agricultural development. Agricultural Systems 40, vols 1-3.
309 pp..
- Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid., 1992. Ground for
Choices. Four perspectives for the rural areas of the European
Community. Reports to the Government, 42.The Hague, SDU
Uitgeverij. SSN 0169-6734; 42. 149 pp. ( also in French).
- Wopereis, M.C.S., 1993. Quantifying the impact of soil and climate
variability on rainfed rice production. PhD thesis, Wageningen
Agricultural University. 188 pp..
* * *
THE MARKET PLACE
Do you feel that research of your team is insufficiently known? In
this section, we welcome a short description of your systems
research group. Descriptions of the CAMASE core groups are already
lined up for this and upcoming issues.
We will also welcome offers of specific expertise or data, and
calls for the same.
MODELLING AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN WAGENINGEN
'Wageningen' harbours the Agricultural University (WAU) with 60
Departments, and 16 large Institutes of the Agricultural Research
Department (in Dutch: DLO) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature
and Fisheries. Over the past two decades, many scientists of these
organizations adopted systems analysis and modelling as a part of
their research and teaching in crop, soil and animal science and
agrosystems research. Hundreds of papers and tens of models and
documents have been published. After recent reorganizations, three
groups emerged that are particularly active in this area: the
Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility (AB-DLO),
formerly the CABO (Wageningen) and the IB (Haren), the graduate
school Production Ecology (PE-WAU) and the DLO-Winand Staring
Centre (SC-DLO). These groups participate in CAMASE, are very
interested to share results and experiences with colleagues in
Europe, and are eager to learn from you. Please write or e_mail us
if you feel like it.
Major publications from Wageningen modelers are found in the
series Simulation Monographs (publisher: PUDOC, Wageningen: 30
volumes), and CABO-TPE Simulation Reports (35 issues). The second
series is continuing (address: as for this Newsletter), the first
is succeeded by two new series: 'Current Issues in Production
Ecology', and 'Systems Approaches for sustainable Agricultural
Systems', both by Kluwer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Available
issues from these series will be listed in the next CAMASE_NEWS.
The group further provides teaching programs, computer aided
instructions, PhD and MSc programs in Crop and Plant Sciences, and
other training programs in The Netherlands and abroad. For further
information, contact dr. Frits Penning de Vries at AB-DLO
(P.O.Box 14, 6700 AA, Wageningen), dr. Peter Leffelaar at PE-WAU
(P.O.Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen), or dr. Aad van Wijk at SC-DLO
(P.O. Box 125, 6700 AC, Wageningen).
Over 50 scientists collaborate in Wageningen in an informal
simulation group on a range of topics. They use many different
models, many of which stem from a common base.
Current activities of AB-DLO and PE-WAU address production and
environmental issues in natural and agricultural ecosystems at
integration levels with time coefficients of hours (plants,
pests), days (soils, crops) and years (production systems). The
research is to improve understanding of systems, but also leads to
designing of improved systems and their optimization. Activities
include the development, testing and documentation of:
- standard modules for crop, soil and pest modelling;
- a 'simulation environment' or 'shell' for use with the standard
modules per se and in cropping systems research, plus user
friendly documentation;
- a method for in-depth analysis of the inherent accuracy of crop
modelling, and consequences of parameter uncertainty;
- more computer aided instructions programs on systems analysis and
crop modelling, and other training materials for use at MSc, PhD
and post doc levels;
- simulation models of competition between plants (and trees) for
the capture of the essential resources for plant growth (i.e.
light, water and nutrients).
The research SC-DLO focuses on problems of physical planning,
environmental protection and water management in rural areas to
support well-balanced decision making. Agro-ecosystem modelling
activities are on:
- transport of water and substances (nutrients and pesticides) in
soils;
- soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationships;
- regional modelling: unsaturated zone models linking regional
ground and surface water models.
The scale of model application ranges from field to regional
level. Fields of application are land evaluation (crops, pasture,
forestry); water management (interactions agriculture-nature-
ground water resources, drainage, irrigation); soil protection/
environmental impact studies (soil acidification, emissions of
nutrients and pesticides to ground and surface waters); scenario
studies for rural land use and environmental problems.
Many of the Wageningen models were written in the simulation
language CSMP, and later PCSMP for PC's. Most models are now
produced in FORTRAN, within a framework called FSE ( the FORTRAN
Simulation Environment) that ensures standardization and
compatibility. A translator has been developed to translate simple
CSMP models into modules for FSE, so that the advantages for
teaching of a real simulation language are retained. This
standardization of models and modelling approaches is expected to
continue.
Interesting developments occur in the field of linear programming.
LP-models exist to optimize production of milk, tulip bulbs (how
very Dutch!) and arable crops on farms. It is also being applied
to optimization of land use in developing countries, and the
European Community. An essential feature of the method is that
consequences of conflicting goals, such as maximizing crop
production and minimizing NH3-loss and pesticide use, can be
compared objectively. The method is referred to as 'multiple goal
linear programming', and helps to quantify options for integrated
agricultural production.
Another important line of research aims to couple Geographic
Information Systems with crop and soil models. While this is
proceeding quite well at a technical level, there are important
issues of aggregation, spatial heterogeneity and data scarcity
that require careful analysis.
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CAMASE: A CONCERTED ACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF
QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR RESEARCH ON AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
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 (Institute
Nationale 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: +31.8370.75961
Telefax: +31.8370.23110
Internet: camase at ab.agro.nl
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