SUCROS1 (Simple and Universal CROp growth Simulator, 24 KB) is a mechanistic model that explains crop growth on the basis of the underlying processes, such as CO2 assimilation and respiration, as influenced by environmental conditions. SUCROS1 simulates potential growth of a crop, i.e. its dry matter accumulation under ample supply of water and nutrients in a pest-, disease- and weed-free environment under the prevailing weather conditions. The rate of dry matter accumulation is a function of irradiation, temperature and crop characteristics. The basis for the calculation is the rate of CO2 assimilation (photosynthesis) of the canopy. That rate is dependent on the radiant energy absorbed by the canopy, which is a function of incoming radiation and crop leaf area. From the absorbed radiation and the photosynthetic characteristics of individual leaves, the daily rate of gross CO2 assimilation of the crop is calculated. For a detailed description, the reader is referred to e.g. Goudriaan & van Laar (1994).
SUCROS2 (34 KB) describes production under water-limited conditions by including water balances of crop and soil in the SUCROS1 model. Conditions are still optimal with respect to other growth factors, i.e. ample nutrients and a pest-, disease- and weed-free environment. With the SUCROS2 model, effects of temporary water shortage and options for soil and water conservation can be studied.
SUCROS description (361 KB)
Example weather file: Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1990 (NLD1.990, 20 KB)
Total set of files SUCROS.ZIP (346 KB)
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