Adapted and Non-Adapted Tropical Corn in Central Iowa: 3. Apsim Model Scenario Analysis.

Adapted and Non-Adapted Tropical Corn in Central Iowa: 3. APSIM Model Scenario Analysis

Tropical germplasm for temperate environments are not attractive for high grain yields, but show promise for biomass production through taller and more vigorous plants with thick stems and long leaves. A novel perspective on corn production has been developed to better understand the biomass yield components of corn by studying adapted and non-adapted tropical corn in temperate growing conditions.

The study used the APSIM model scenario analysis using input data from two biannual studies. Field trails were established at the Sorensen Research Farm in Boone County, IA, US during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons.  Two experiments were laid out, the first one was a phenology study using planting date as a treatment for adapted and non-adapted tropical corn; the second was a plant arrangement study using plant density and row spacing as combined treatments for comparing conventional and topical corn.

A system analysis using the APSIM model as an integrated tool articulated the phenology module, the crop growth and interception module, and the final biomass production and composition module. The flexibility of APSIM assisted in placing the different components together, as well as connecting them within a decision-making process. APSIM is typically used for corn grain yield modeling, but in this study was adjusted to model biomass accumulation for adapted and non-adapted tropical and conventional germplasm, for central Iowa conditions.