AGRO/NRES 906 – Crop Growth and Yield Modeling

Instructor(s): Dr. Haishun Yang

Number of Credit Hours: 3

Description: Crop growth simulation modeling is a systematic approach and powerful tool for gaining quantitative and mechanistic understanding of crop-weather-soil-management relationship and interactions, as well as for helping improve and optimize crop management based on growing season characteristics and management options. In the course, understanding and use of crop simulation models and the ability to build crop models will be emphasized. Theoretical principles of and quantitative descriptions of crop production ecology will be explained using state-of-the-art crop simulation models. Structure of crop models and simulation techniques will be illustrated. Applications of crop simulation models will also be demonstrated using practical examples. Students will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of running simulations of wide range of scenarios for corn and soybean growth and yield, and interpreting simulation results to serve various purposes.

Prerequisites: Admission to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Successful completion of AGRO/HORT 325 or equivalent. AGRO/HORT/NRES 406/806 or equivalent recommended.

Course Requirements & Materials:

• Technical Requirements: Access to high-speed Internet and email with up-to-date browsers and the ability to view videos (recommended browsers are Firefox, Chrome, and Safari)
• Textbooks: No textbooks required; reference materials will be distributed during class. All course materials are online in Canvas.

This Course is Ideal For…

• Graduate students
• Certified professional agronomists, crop consultants, and crop advisers
• Extension educators, agents, and specialists
• Farmers wishing to learn more about crop modeling