APSRU PROJECT SUMMARY NO. 42

Project Title:                        Analysis of Cropping Systems in Northern NSW using Simulation Models

Project Supervisor:            Dr Harry Marcellos/Dr David Freebairn/Dr Samsul Huda

Funding Body:                     GRDC (Grains Research & Development Corporation)

Admin Contact:                   Mr Robin Scott

Commencement Date:        01/07/94                                 Completion Date: 31/12/97

Aims:

·       Validate the APSIM model for the region east of the Newell highway in northern NSW using farming systems experimental data available at Tamworth Agricultural Research Centre.

·       Apply APSIM to analyse the implications of information from shorter term experiments to farming system outcomes in the long term.

·       Provide a framework within which to bring together for analysis, application, and future coordination, farming systems research information from a number of research groups operating in the northern region.

·       Extend the above into the education domain by formalising links between Dr Samsul Huda and APSRU.

·       Extend farming system modelling to areas west of the Newell highway and the Liverpool Plains through support for a postgraduate student.

Research Proposal Summary:

The proposed project falls within the Corporation’s Research Objective 3: Optimising use of the natural resource base, 15-18 Farming Systems.  It differs significantly from the preliminary proposal by incorporating suggestions from the Northern Panel to link the work of Dr Samsul Huda, a crop modeller specialising in agroclimatic risk analysis with APSIM.  It is submitted by NSW Ag to better reflect the focus of the work.

The scientist at Tamworth would:

·       Assemble, audit and enter data sets (crop, soil, environment)

·       Test APSIM (validate, optimise, new data)

·       Apply the model to analyse scenarios, link with extension officers and growers

The student will collaborate with the scientist (who will co-supervise) at Tamworth to:

·       Calibrate and validate APSIM for the Liverpool Plains and western NSW

Potential Outcomes:

The first 12 months of the project will be needed for training in APSIM, familiarisation with data sets and creating the data bases.  The next 18 months will concentrate on validating and using APSIM, and linking with extension officers.  It will be important to improve the robustness of APSRU’s models through their application to wider data bases and develop credibility In simulation techniques in NSW.

The remaining 6 months will focus on running applications and information transfer.

Project Publications: