Introduction to the crop model Introduction to the crop model STICS STICS and its use for estimating crop and its use for estimating crop

production, consumption and lossesproduction, consumption and losses

Françoise RugetFrançoise Ruget

INRA Climate soil and INRA Climate soil and environmentenvironment

AVIGNON FranceAVIGNON France

The National Institute for Agronomic Research is• a public, scientific and technological establishment• under the joint authority of the Ministries of Agriculture and Research• second largest French public research organisation, with a staff of nearly 9000 and a budget of 573 millions euros

Since 2001 INRA is taking up the scientific challenges of the life sciences, helping to accomplish profound changes in farming, responding to new demands from society (food safety and quality, ethics, science-society debate, etc.)

by strengthening its resources in three major fields:

1. The development of sustainable agriculture

2. Nutrition and its effects on human health

3. The environment and regional development

by actively participating in the internationalisation of science

>> The environment and rural areas Protection of natural resources

1. Management and protection of physical resources: water, soil, the atmosphere

2. Valorisation and preservation of biological resources

3. Management of agrarian and forest systems

4. Support for public policies on the environment and rural areas

Unité Climat, Sol et Environnement (CSE), Unité Climat, Sol et Environnement (CSE), AvignonAvignon

Department “Environnement et Agronomie”Department “Environnement et Agronomie”laboratory resulting from the aggregation of two laboratory resulting from the aggregation of two laboratories : “soil science”, “bioclimatology”laboratories : “soil science”, “bioclimatology”

Climat, Sol et Environnement : Research objectives

Characterize, understand and model the dynamic behaviour of cultivated ecosystems :

• assess water and energy flows in the soil/plant /atmosphere system,

• couple mass fluxes and biogeochemical cycles in soils

• represent and predict crop development and yields according to the soil properties, the climat and the agricultural practises.

Climat, Sol et Environnement :Targets of our research

• environmental impact of agricultural practices ==> define practices for a sustainable agriculture

• optimize irrigation and fertilization in space and in time

• crop yield estimation

• mapping agricultural potentialities

• impact of climate change on agricultural production

• design of future space mission for earth observations

estimate production, consumption, losses

as a function of environment and agricultural practices

represent the whole plant cycle and a great range of variability of productions : between years, areas and parcelsfor many crops (maize, wheat, sorghum, grassland,…)

require few input data and to be non sensitive to up scaling

production as a function of environment and agricultural practices

Functions of STICSFunctions of STICS

Basic principles of Basic principles of

Radiation interception and conversion Radiation interception and conversion (Monteith), by leaf area index, function of development units (Monteith), by leaf area index, function of development units (heat sums and photoperiod, chilling needs,…)(heat sums and photoperiod, chilling needs,…)

Water balance Water balance : confrontation between : confrontation between climatic demand climatic demand (soil evaporation, plant transpiration, (soil evaporation, plant transpiration,

depending on leaf area index), depending on leaf area index), soil water offer (tank soil water offer (tank where the roots grow) where the roots grow) limits leaf area index and limits leaf area index and productionproduction

Nitrogen balance Nitrogen balance : confrontation between : confrontation between crop demand (dilution curves) and offer crop demand (dilution curves) and offer (accessible nitrogen for roots, (accessible nitrogen for roots, active and passive active and passive

absorptionabsorption))

intercrop or fallow

sowing

harvest

cropWeather

Soil

Plant

Management

Environmentalvariables

Agricultural variabless

What’s STICS ?

Crop generality

wheat, maizesoybean, sorghumgrassland, tomatosugarbeet, peasunflowervineyard, rapeseedbanana, carrotlettuce, sugarcane

with stresses

rootingwater balance

mineralization

nitrogen absorption

effect of stresses

without stress

development

leaf area index

interception

conversion

assimilate distribution (grains)

STICS modulesSTICS modules

The development moduledevelopment

agricultural practices

sowing date

plant and variety (earlyness) choice of

duration of the stages

duration calculation

(choice of method)

air or crop temperature

photoperiodism

cold requirements– vernalization

- dormancy Richardson

Bidabe

calendar of organ setting and growth

Evolution of leaf area index

0

0.0002

0.0004

0.0006

0.0008

0.001

0.0012

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

ULAI (arbitrary units)

m2.plant-1.degree.day-1

LEV

LAXAMF

phenological effect potential growth

Growth rate of leaf area index

+ effects on potential growth :- population density (competition)

- temperature no link between source and LAI growth

- stress H2O, N+ effects depending on options

- trophic stress (if crop with simultaneous growth of leaves and fruits)- senescence (if gross LAI)- agricultural practices (cuts)

leaf area indexleaf area indexleaf area indexleaf area index

RADIATIVE TRANSFERS

Choose a shape

leaf density profil types

Constant leaf density

Width/thickness ratio constant until max height

Grow he shape

Daily radiation transfer

direct radiation scattered radiation (47 directions)

infinite crop

between-row sampling and mean

maxi height

Base

increasing LAI

mean

intercepted radiation (%)

BEER law

Radiation interception

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 2 4 6 8LAI

0.550.60.650.70.750.8

% intercepted radiation

interception

juvveg fill

bmax

development stage

saturating solar radiation+ STRESS H2O & N

anoxic stress (excess of water)

Radiation use efficiency :

from intercepted radiation to biomass

dr

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

f(T)

conversion

The partition module

choice between 2 types

of plants

time-separated

vegetative and reproductive

growth

successive stages

no explicit competition

between organs

simultaneous possible growth of leaves and fruits

overlapping stages

assimilate partitioning

between leaves and storage

organs

assimilate distribution (grains)

DEPTH

DENSITY Standard profil

T°C BULK DENSITYDROUGHT

Partition / Soil constraints in each layerRoot length per day

Development

Fluctuations T°C

Distribution

Standard profile / true density

"profil type /densité vraie"

WATER EXCESS

Time dynamics

RootingRooting rooting

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

A

B

growing in the profile

depth (cm)

Demand

ETP Penman

Supply

soil evaporation

crop transpiration

rooting(growth, final profile)

soil water(depth, water properties)

water stress index

Supply/demand

water stress index

soil water contentwilting point threshold

action on physiological fonctions

0

1

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

A

B

growing in the profile

depth (cm)

Water balance inWater balance in

water balance

access to

soil supplyplant demand

MS

[N]

fertilizer, mineralization, symbiotic fixation

quantity[N, NO3]

Crop nitrogen requirements

migration active absorption

root densitytranspiration

availability[N, NO3]

supply = minimum

minimum (N demand, N supply)

dry matter[N] =

Soil nitrogen absorptionnitrogen absorption

mineralization module

mineralization

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

0 5 10 15 20 25

Temperature (°C)

Fth

ou

F

tr

HumusFtem=0.115

ResiduesFtem1=-0.566Ftem2=0.620Ftem3=0.9125Ftem4=1.026

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

0 100 200 300 400

Days at 15°C

N m

inér

alis

é

CNres=12.5

CNres=25

CNres=100

Yearly mineralization rate 15°C, Hcc

0.00

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

0 10 20 30 40 50

Clay (%)

K2p

ot (an

-1)

CALC = 0 %

CALC = 25 %

CALC = 50 %

CALC = 75 %

Fmin1=0.22

Effect of soil moisture

0

1

0

Moisture

Fh

HUCCHUMIN

Fhum

mineralization

Effect of temperatureNitrogen mineralization

along time

function of organic nitrogen content (depth x rate) and crop residues

effect of soil moisture and temperature

effect of clay and calcium carbonate content

Soil Discontinuity

1 cm layers for water balance

calculation(tank type)

Residualsoil

moisture

Minimal soil moisture

wilting point

Soil moisture at field

capacity

Saturation humidity

Fissures :with/withoutmicroporosity

mac

ropo

rosi

ty

fiss

ures

Stones

Permanent features

The soil compartment

YES NO

YES NO

IndependentCompetition with

storage organ

Homogenous crop Crop en rows

No competition Trophic competition

Homogenous crop Crop in rows

LAI % soil cover

Annual Perennial

K ETP Resistive approach

Leguminous No leguminous

Vernalisation requirements

DevelopmentAction of the photoperiod

Leaf Surface Growth

Radiation interception

Shoot biomass growth

Yield formation

Root growth

Water balance

Nitrogen balance

WHEAT

No leguminous

K ETP

Homogenous crop

No competition

Annual

Independent

LAI

YES

YES

Homogenous crop

Modularity and Formalisation

NO

NO

Trophic competition

Competition withstorage organ

TOMATO

The menus of the interface 1. Le menu "Répertoire" directory

Directory

4 menusthe concerned files are necessary : climate and

parameters (that is general, soil, plant and technical parameters); for some (like general and plant parameters), you can use prepared files

the lai and observed files are optional (the model can run without these files and informations)The menus of the interface : 2. The menu Entrées = Inputs

Inputs

Parameters put together according to their functions

1.- General parameters

one file, main options, several general parameters

The menus of the interface : 2. The menu Entrées = Inputs

The sub-menu "Entrées/ Paramètres/Paramètres généraux"

choose the conditions of the simulation

USM

The menus of the interface : 3. The menu Modèles = model

The sub-menu "Modèles/…"

• 4. The menu "Sorties" = outputs

The menus of the interface : 4. The menu Sorties = outputs

Outputs

What examples ?What examples ? precision agricultureprecision agriculture climate changeclimate change

apricot : dates and risksapricot : dates and risks grass : datesgrass : dates

characterize the agricultural year for main characterize the agricultural year for main cropscrops

a tool for maize irrigation : farmer informationa tool for maize irrigation : farmer information variability of production (grasslands) to justify variability of production (grasslands) to justify

subsidiessubsidies

ChlorophylLAI

Soil map

Remote sensing

Knowing spatial

variability

Crop modelling

Crop modelSpatialise

d

input

Assimilation

spatialised adviceDecision tool

CLIMATE

Yield Quality

Remaining N

scenarios spatialised

agricultural practices

Optim

isat io

n

Pedo-transfer

rules

LAI

Flowering date

Chilling damages

abricot

Before 1990

Climat simulé2 x CO21990-2000

From Domergue, 2001

Climate changes in the low Rhône Climate changes in the low Rhône valleyvalley

alfalfa

alfalfa

First cut dategrass

grass

Before 1990

Climat simulé2 x CO2

1990-200029 June 29 July20 May 30 May 9 June 19 June 9 July 19 July

FromJuin, 2001

Climate changes in the south AlpsClimate changes in the south Alps

Agroclimatic watch (vac) : Results

Results for four periods: - historic period in two parts before 1990 and 1991-2002 ; - individual years since 2003.

Graphics or tables results

here, for one crop and all the sites, or one site and all the crops (main field crops)

http://www.avignon.inra.fr/veilleagroclimatique or www.avignon.inra.fr/stics/vac

Cogito : a tool to estimate water Cogito : a tool to estimate water requirementsrequirements

stratéstics : before

pronostics : during

diagnotics : after

It contains a database, with historical climates, choice of regional soils. For the current year, it is needful to find actual climate values and to complete the year with many ends of years, to estimate the range of possible yields.

two types of screens

choose simulations conditions and display results

database

input parameter

s

climate

soil

agricultural practices

interpolation

available water

content

number of cuts

fertilization

source

Météo-France

INRA : (soil map 10-6)

SCEES survey

adaptation

Supplying the model : creation of a database

supplying the model

evaluating the system

Applied or less applied uses

Patch scale• agronomical diagnosis (ex : effect of soil practices - irrigation on banana plant)• environmental diagnosis ( ex : effect of irrigation on nitrogen pollution in vegetable cropping)• precision agriculture (ex : soil heterogeneity or irrigation )• test of technical practices (ex : irrigation dates, use of intercropped plants to « trap » nitrates)• test of cropping system (ex : intercropping)

Regional scale• land abilities (ex : cereals, forage production, soil mineralization)• agronomical diagnosis (ex : data assimilation using remote sensing methods)• environmental diagnosis (ex: nitrate leaching in a little agricultural area or flowing (river) basin, coupling with hydrological model) • impact of climate change (ex : cereals Beauce, fruit trees in the Rhône valley, forages in mountain)

Who are the users of Who are the users of STICS ?STICS ?

type of usertype of user researcher researcher agronomistagronomist

agricultural agricultural advisoradvisor

decision decision makermaker

available available filesfiles

allallincluding including plant plant parameterparameterss

technical technical and and environment environment (soil and (soil and climate)climate)

not anynot any

only only resultsresults

user user investmentinvestment

great great (model)(model)

databasedatabase lightlight

scalescale patchpatch regionregion countrycountry

parametersparameters situationssituations main main situationssituations

equivaleequivalentnt

confrontaticonfrontationon

by by processesprocesses

by usersby users by usersby users

Thank you for your attention !Thank you for your attention !

zone culturedrainage mm lessivage kg N

cipan solnu  cipan 

solnu  

0fo foF 0fo foF

Ain blé 483 497 X 80.8 85.4 X

  maïs 705 687 X 155.7 182.2 X

Albanais blé X X 537 X X 96.0

  maïs X X 801 X X 311.2

Bièvre blé 292 305 278 55.9 60.0 59.6

  maïs 459 453 435 86.2 119.2 148.7

Forez blé 80 86 87 52.5 48.6 52.7

  maïs 167 182 176 67.5 112.3 140.7

Valence blé 246 263 X 61.9 68.7 X

  maïs 453 420 X 100.1 128.6 X

The « root growth» module

Options (fonctions) Practices choices

Type profile

True density

Sensitivity to water excess (anoxia)

Capillary rises

choice between 2 types of growth

supplementary processes

Irrigation

Soil drainage

Sowing (population) density

rooting

Infiltrability mm d-1

Overflowing

Circulating waterdown

Water in the microporosity :

available to the plant (>wilting point)

Water in the macroporosity :

anoxia generating

Net rainfall

upPerfect mix

water/nitratesand carrying off

Water and nitrates circulation in the soil

Régulation rendement

Régulation LAI ou forme plante

Sur-frondaison

EnterréeSous-frondaison

éclaircissage NON

station météo abri froid altitude

paillage plastique mulch végétal

nue

semis débourrementdémarrage

plantation

Sur le sol Enterrée

8 type d ’engrais fert-irrigation

10 types de résidusNON

fauche effeuillage rognage

cueillette moisson

Maturité physio %eau %sucre %azote %huile

microclimat

Fertilisation organiqueTEC

HN

IQU

ES C

ULT

UR

ALE

S

Irrigation

Fertilisation minérale

Surface du sol

Installation

récolte

Cultures associées FRUITIERS-

VIGNE

CEREALESMARAICHAGE

FOURRAGES