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Process-based simulation of prairie growth

Author

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  • Zilverberg, Cody J.
  • Williams, Jimmy
  • Jones, Curtis
  • Harmoney, Keith
  • Angerer, Jay
  • Metz, Loretta J.
  • Fox, William

Abstract

When field research is cost- or time-prohibitive, models can inform decision-makers regarding the impact of agricultural policy on production and the environment, but process-based models that simulate animal-plant-soil interaction and ecosystem services in grazing lands are rare. In the U.S.A., APEX (Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender) is a model commonly used to inform policy on cropland, but its ability to simulate grazinglands was less robust. Therefore, we enhanced the APEX model’s plant growth module to improve its utility on grazing lands. Improvements addressed allocation of new biomass, response to water stress, competition for soil water, and regrowth of herbaceous perennials. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that simulated biomass responded to changes in precipitation through adjustments to both total biomass and distribution of biomass aboveground and belowground. A deep-rooted species generally outperformed a shallow-rooted species but the relative advantage was greatest when precipitation was historically low. A 10-year dataset of peak biomass collected in central Kansas, U.S.A., was divided among 5 species and species groups and was used for calibration and validation. When the mass of all species was combined in the validation dataset, the percent bias was −2%, Willmott’s Dr was 0.79, and r2 was 0.84. When biomass production of individual species was analyzed, the model did not perform as well, with the percent bias ranging from −36 to 29%, Willmott’s Dr ranging from 0.58 to 0.71, and r2 from 0.25 to 0.67. Because grazing lands often have a rich species diversity, the improvements made APEX better-suited to modeling such heterogeneous landscapes. However, simulating biomass of individual species, rather than the sum of all species, is an area that still needs improvement. Further testing at additional sites to calibrate single- and multiple-species growth and identify any spatial trends in model performance will also be beneficial.

Suggested Citation

  • Zilverberg, Cody J. & Williams, Jimmy & Jones, Curtis & Harmoney, Keith & Angerer, Jay & Metz, Loretta J. & Fox, William, 2017. "Process-based simulation of prairie growth," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 351(C), pages 24-35.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:351:y:2017:i:c:p:24-35
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.02.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kiniry, James R. & Major, D. J. & Izarralde, R. C. & Williams, J. R. & Gassman, Philip W. & Morrison, M. & Bergentine, R. & Zentner, R. P., 1995. "Epic Model Parameters for Cereal, Oilseed, and Forage Crops in the Northern Great Plains Region," Staff General Research Papers Archive 894, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rhoda F. Aderinto & J. Alfonso Ortega-S. & Ambrose O. Anoruo & Richard Machen & Benjamin L. Turner, 2020. "Can the Tragedy of the Commons be Avoided in Common-Pool Forage Resource Systems? An Application to Small-Holder Herding in the Semi-Arid Grazing Lands of Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-29, July.
    2. Cheng, G. & Harmel, R.D. & Ma, L. & Derner, J.D. & Augustine, D.J. & Bartling, P.N.S. & Fang, Q.X. & Williams, J.R. & Zilverberg, C.J. & Boone, R.B. & Hoover, D. & Yu, Q., 2021. "Evaluation of APEX modifications to simulate forage production for grazing management decision-support in the Western US Great Plains," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Zilverberg, Cody J. & Angerer, Jay & Williams, Jimmy & Metz, Loretta J. & Harmoney, Keith, 2018. "Sensitivity of diet choices and environmental outcomes to a selective grazing algorithm," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 390(C), pages 10-22.
    4. Fang, Q.X. & Harmel, R.D. & Ma, L. & Bartling, P.N.S. & Derner, J.D. & Jeong, J. & Williams, J.R. & Boone, R.B., 2022. "Evaluating the APEX model for alternative cow-calf grazing management strategies in Central Texas," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    5. Edward C. Rhodes & Douglas R. Tolleson & Jay P. Angerer, 2022. "Modeling Herbaceous Biomass for Grazing and Fire Risk Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Meki, Manyowa N. & Osorio-Leyton, Javier & Steglich, Evelyn M. & Kiniry, Jim R. & Propato, Marco & Winchell, Mike & Rathjens, Hendrik & Angerer, Jay P. & Norfleet, Lee M., 2023. "Plant parameterization and APEXgraze model calibration and validation for US land resource region H grazing lands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    7. Ungar, Eugene David, 2019. "Perspectives on the concept of rangeland carrying capacity, and their exploration by means of Noy-Meir's two-function model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 403-413.
    8. A, Tadesse & Jeong, Jaehak & Green, Colleen H.M., 2022. "Modeling landscape wind erosion processes on rangelands using the APEX model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 467(C).

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