European Journal of Agronomy最新文献

{"title":"Optimizing winter wheat varieties for yield and net ecosystem productivity under climate change in the North China Plain","authors":"Jiujiang Wu ,&nbsp;Hongzheng Shen ,&nbsp;Yanqing Yang ,&nbsp;Junli Zhao ,&nbsp;Tao Ding ,&nbsp;Wei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global warming presents significant challenges to crop production, but the emphasis on future yields rather than carbon sequestration has limited our understanding of how cropland contributes to climate change. In this study, we integrated the World Food Studies model and the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator to evaluate the impacts of variety optimization on winter wheat yield and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) in the North China Plain under future climate change. Without variety optimization, winter wheat yield was projected to decline by an average of 9.1 % and 11.9 % under SSP245 and SSP585, respectively, while NEP was expected to increase, particularly under SSP585. Both flowering and maturity dates advanced, shortening the vegetative growth stage (VGS) while maintaining a relatively stable reproductive growth stage (RGS). With variety optimization, winter wheat showed reduced climate sensitivity, with yield projected to increase by an average of 20.7 % and 16.9 % under SSP245 and SSP585, respectively, and NEP generally increased. However, certain regions in Hebei and Shandong may transition from carbon sinks to sources when grain carbon content is considered. Additionally, flowering advanced more significantly than maturity, extending the duration of RGS. Our findings highlight the critical role of phenology in regulating winter wheat yield and NEP, particularly emphasizing the stronger influence of climatic conditions during VGS compared to RGS. Model results suggest future variety optimization strategies should reduce heat requirements during VGS and increase them during RGS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A review of biochar's sustainability in climate-smart agriculture: Recent advances, emerging trends, and future directions","authors":"Agnes Naa Abeley Abbey ,&nbsp;Kwame Agyei Frimpong ,&nbsp;Flavio Odoi-Yorke ,&nbsp;Edward Akwasi Ampofo ,&nbsp;Ransford Opoku Darko","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change and soil degradation threaten global agriculture, necessitating sustainable solutions. This study adopted a dual methodological approach, integrating a systematic review with quantitative bibliometric analysis to evaluate the potential of biochar in climate-smart agriculture. A total of 180 documents published between 2010 and 2023 were retrieved from the Scopus database. Using the Bibliometrix R package, the study conducted trend analysis, country-level publication metrics, keyword co-occurrence analysis, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution. In parallel, a systematic review guided by PRISMA protocols synthesized findings from 80 peer-reviewed articles. The bibliometric analysis showed that China contributed 18 % of publications, followed by India (13 %) and Pakistan (6 %). Thematic mapping identified biochar as a \"motor theme\" (a well-developed and central topic within the research field) closely associated with climate-smart agriculture. The study revealed biochar's multiple benefits: enhancing soil fertility, increasing crop yields (up to 340 % for potatoes), and sequestering carbon with a potential to mitigate 2.56 × 109 tons of CO_2-eq/year, representing about 4.7 % of global annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. However, economic feasibility and long-term consequences, such as potential shifts in soil microbiota and nutrient cycling dynamics over decades, continue to pose challenges. The study highlights biochar's promise in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable agriculture while stressing the need for long-term field studies, mechanistic research, and transdisciplinary approaches for successful implementation. Policy incentives such as carbon credits, subsidized biochar production technology, and integrated agricultural extension programs could accelerate biochar adoption in smallholder systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127690"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Foliar zinc fertilization: Enhancing sorghum productivity and starch quality under zinc deficiency","authors":"Yuxuan Chen ,&nbsp;Zhicheng Deng ,&nbsp;Xiaofei Chen ,&nbsp;Bang Li ,&nbsp;Yifan Xing ,&nbsp;Wendong Gu ,&nbsp;Dongxia Liu ,&nbsp;Chang Liu ,&nbsp;Chunjuan Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaolong Shi ,&nbsp;Yufei Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sorghum (<em>Sorghum bicolor</em> (L.) Moench), the fifth-largest cereal crop globally, faces productivity challenges due to soil zinc deficiency, which negatively impacts both yield and nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of foliar zinc fertilizer application on sorghum yield, grain filling dynamics, starch synthesis, and nutrient accumulation across two growing seasons. A comprehensive randomized field experiment was conducted with four treatments: a control (A1), foliar spray at the jointing stage (A2), at the heading stage (A3), and at both stages (A4). The zinc fertilizer was applied as a 0.2 % zinc sulfate solution at a rate of 800 L ha⁻¹, equating to 1.6 kg of zinc ha⁻¹. The results demonstrated that foliar application of zinc, especially at the jointing stage, significantly increased sorghum yield by 8.71 % and 9.22 % in 2021 and 2022, and 1,000-grain weight by 20.5 % and 16.5 %, respectively. This enhancement was attributed to the increased net photosynthetic rate and dry matter accumulation, which in turn boosted grain filling efficiency and starch synthesis. The upper panicle grains exhibited superior filling conditions, with the A2 treatment enhancing the upper grain weight by 12.67 % in 2021 and 6.30 % in 2022, respectively. The foliar zinc application notably elevated the activity of key enzymes involved in starch synthesis, such as ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch branching enzyme (SBE), starch debranching enzyme (DBE), and soluble starch synthase (SS). Furthermore, the foliar application of zinc fertilizer significantly increased the zinc content in sorghum leaves and other organs, with the A2 and A4 treatments showing the highest enhancement. This increase in zinc content was accompanied by a positive effect on the absorption and accumulation of other essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, suggesting a synergistic role of zinc in improving overall plant nutrition. In summary, the foliar application of 0.2 % zinc sulfate fertilizer is an effective agricultural practice to improve sorghum yield and starch quality by enhancing photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, and the activity of starch synthesis enzymes. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing sorghum cultivation practices in regions prone to zinc deficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127671"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of harvest time on rice yield and quality: A meta-analysis","authors":"Chuanming Zhou ,&nbsp;Weiqin Wang ,&nbsp;Huabin Zheng ,&nbsp;Min Huang ,&nbsp;Jiana Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Harvest timing significantly affects rice yield and quality, with optimal timing varying by variety and region. In order to elucidate the effects of different harvest timings on rice yield and quality, and emphasize the impact of rice varieties and regions on harvest timing and suitable grain moisture content. Using 35 days after heading and 22–24 % moisture content as controls, 32 studies (977 data pairs) from CNKI and Web of Science (up to 2024) were meta-analyzed. The results showed that premature harvesting (compared to harvesting 35 days after heading) reduced yield by 5.76 %, while delayed harvesting increased yield by 8.31 % and grain weight by 9.32 %—though no significant yield change in torrid zones. Delayed harvesting also improved head rice rates from 25 to 55 days after heading, but decreased them by 20.51 % in torrid zones, and both early and late harvests increased chalkiness by 15.37 %. Additionally, delayed harvesting raised amylose content by 3.36 % and taste value by 42.93 % while reducing protein content and viscosity measures. It is particularly necessary to note that harvesting outside the optimal 22–24 % moisture range significantly lowers yields and head rice rates. Overall, while delayed harvesting can improve some quality traits, it may reduce appearance quality, with effects varying by zone and variety. In contrast, the benefits of the optimal moisture range are consistent, with the highest yield and head rice rate achieved at 22 %–24 % moisture. These findings provide a theoretical basis for determining optimal harvest timing to achieve high-yield, high-quality rice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127674"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing early-stage plant phosphorus assessment for winter rye via hyperspectral data: A model-based approach harnessing feedforward neural networks","authors":"Ewa Panek-Chwastyk ,&nbsp;Karol Paradowski ,&nbsp;Beata Rutkowska ,&nbsp;Wiesław Szulc ,&nbsp;Igor Dzierżanowski","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Context</h3><div>Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a critical limiting factor in crop production, significantly impacting growth and yield, particularly in winter rye. Traditional methods for detecting P deficiency often face challenges in terms of accuracy and timeliness, especially during the early stages of crop development. Hyperspectral remote sensing presents a promising alternative for monitoring nutrient stress, while feedforward neural networks (FNNs) offer robust predictive capabilities for data analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study seeks to develop an innovative method for detecting phosphorus deficiencies in winter rye during early growth stages by integrating hyperspectral data with feedforward neural networks. The primary objective is to improve the efficiency and scalability of phosphorus (P) deficiency detection, with a particular focus on reducing root mean square error (RMSE) and enhancing the responsiveness of detection compared to traditional phosphorus detection methods, eliminating the need for time-consuming sample collection and chemical analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Field experiments were conducted at two distinct locations: the Professor Marian Górski Experimental Station in Skierniewice, Poland, and experimental fields in Połczyn, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, during the months of April and May 2023. Hyperspectral data were acquired through drone-based, FieldSpec ground-based, and satellite measurements. Plant and soil samples were analyzed to assess nutrient content. The hyperspectral reflectance data were processed using feedforward neural networks (FNNs), which were trained to predict phosphorus levels based on spectral data collected from both ground-based and drone-based sensors. Additionally, spectral channels were aligned with the Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope satellite bands for broader applicability.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>The integration of hyperspectral data with FNNs significantly improved the accuracy and timeliness of phosphorus deficiency detection. The spectral ranges of 500–550 nm and 950–1000 nm were identified as crucial for accurate prediction. The model achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.84 g/kg for phosphorus content and 64 % accuracy in identifying deficiency points, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach for early-stage nutrient monitoring in winter rye.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>This study contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture by providing an efficient, accurate method for early-stage phosphorus deficiency detection in winter rye. The findings hold practical implications for optimizing fertilization strategies, improving crop management practices, and promoting sustainable farming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127667"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing nitrogen fertilization to enhance wheat productivity by regulating canopy-root traits and photosynthesis under elevated atmospheric ammonia concentration","authors":"Pengzhao Liu ,&nbsp;Mengwei Cheng ,&nbsp;Zhipeng Li ,&nbsp;Zhen Fan ,&nbsp;Yanrong Lin ,&nbsp;Zinan Yan ,&nbsp;Xining Zhao ,&nbsp;Enke Liu ,&nbsp;Tie Cai ,&nbsp;Xiaolong Ren ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The response of crop growth and yield formation to nitrogen (N) application under elevated atmospheric ammonia (NH₃) concentrations remains unclear. We hypothesize that elevated NH₃ concentrations combined with different N application rates would affect wheat productivity through regulating canopy-root traits and photosynthetic capacity. Therefore, a three-year field experiment was conducted to clarify the effects of different NH₃ concentrations (atmospheric NH₃: 0.03 ± 0.01 mg m⁻³, ANH₃; elevated NH₃: 0.30 ± 0.05 mg m⁻³, ENH₃) and nitrogen application rates (0, 150 and 225 kg N ha⁻¹, denoted as N0, N1 and N2, respectively) on canopy and root growth, photosynthetic capacity, and winter wheat productivity. The results indicated that compared to the ANH₃ treatment: (1) ENH₃ treatment (EN1, 150 kg N ha⁻¹) effectively regulated both above- and below-ground growth of winter wheat. This resulted in a lower root-canopy (R/C) ratio, stimulating aboveground biomass and nitrogen accumulation, which ultimately increasing grain yield by 4.2 −6.5 % and partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (NPFP) by 3.3 −7.5 %; (2) ENH₃ treatment increased leaf area index (LAI) by 3.2 −5.3 %, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 3.1 −5.8 % and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) by 3.6 −8.1 %, which helped maintain higher source activity in winter wheat. ENH₃ treatment increased source capacity by 5.4 −8.4 % and source-sink ratio by 3.2 −4.7 %. Compared to the EN1 treatment, EN2 treatment increased the R/C ratio by 2.8 −4.5 %, and both kernel number/leaf ratio (KNL) and kernel weight/leaf ratio (KWL) decreased by 8.1 −10.7 % and 4.7 −7.2 %, ultimately decreasing grain yield by 11.8 −14.4 %. Overall, N rate of 150 kg N ha⁻¹ under elevated NH₃ environment improved wheat yield by regulating canopy-root trait and establishing new source-sink balance. This study provides valuable scientific insights into the potential reduction of chemical N use for wheat production in future elevated NH₃ environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127664"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143917303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling mechanisms of carbon enrichment via straw and biochar application to enhance soil fertility and improve maize yield","authors":"Weishan Meng ,&nbsp;Na An ,&nbsp;Song Guan ,&nbsp;Sen Dou ,&nbsp;Bowen Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenjing Zhu ,&nbsp;Jinhua Yue","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127673","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While straw and its derived biochar are established as effective soil amendments for carbon (C) sequestration, the divergent underlying mechanisms governing C enrichment through these materials and their corresponding agronomic implications remain poorly understood. In this four-year field study, stable C fractions such as microbial necromass carbon (MNC), humic C and aggregate-associated C were analyzed using biomarker techniques and fluorescence spectroscopy. Compared with no amendment, the application of straw and biochar significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content and four-year average grain yield by 5.63 %–23.21 % and 10.52 %–18.47 %, respectively. Under equal C input rate, biochar enhanced stable C fractions more effectively than straw, including humic C (21.25 % increase), MNC (5.08 % increase), and aggregate-associated C. Regarding the molecular composition of humic acid (HA), biochar enhanced HA aromatization, whereas straw promoted its aliphatization. Furthermore, MNC was pivotal to SOC enrichment in straw-returned soil, while biochar application exhibited superior potential in promoting soil aggregation and achieving yield enhancement. These findings reveal contrasting mechanisms underlying straw-and biochar-induced SOC enrichment pathways: straw primarily enhances the pivotal contribution of microbial necromass to SOC, whereas biochar preferentially facilitates recalcitrant SOC formation via biochemical process and aggregate-mediated physical protection of SOC. Notably, the co-application of straw with a small amount of biochar demonstrated synergistic effects on both SOC enrichment (including MNC and macroaggregate-associated C) and maize yield enhancement. Therefore, optimized straw or biochar management strategies offer practical guidelines for enhancing SOC sequestration and improving crop productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127673"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of organic fertilization systems on yield and yield variability of lucerne and market crops: Insights from a 10-year field experiment in Austria","authors":"Aliyeh Salehi ,&nbsp;Andreas Surböck ,&nbsp;Gabriele Gollner ,&nbsp;Josef Eitzinger ,&nbsp;Jürgen K. Friedel ,&nbsp;Marie-Luise Wohlmuth ,&nbsp;Bernhard Freyer","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 10-year effects of organic fertilization have been shown to enhance crop yields and contribute to sustainable agricultural productivity, although the extent of these benefits can vary depending on specific conditions and management practices. To investigate the impact of different organic fertilization approaches, the present study examined the effects of livestock-keeping and stockless organic fertilization systems on the yield and yield variability of lucerne and market crops (such as grain maize, spring barley, field pea, winter rye, winter wheat after lucerne (WWL), and winter wheat after peas (WWP)) in Eastern Austria over a 10-year period. The study tested three organic fertilization systems with continuous application of organic fertilizers as follows: FS1: without livestock, only lucerne green manure (GM); FS2: without livestock, lucerne green manure and municipal compost (GM+MC); and FS3: with livestock, lucerne forage use and farmyard manure application (FU+FYM). The study found that the dry matter (DM) of lucerne and the grain yield of market crops distinctly varied from year to year, with higher productivity observed during years with more favorable weather conditions. Moreover, the 10-year application of organic fertilizers, especially GM+MC and FU+FYM, increased the grain yield of all studied market crops except maize and field peas in comparison with GM. The simplified soil surface nitrogen (N) balance estimation revealed large differences between the fertilization systems. The GM treatments showed a highly positive N balance (196–374 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) due to N retention in the aboveground biomass of lucerne and assumed minimal gaseous ammonia losses (GM and GM+MC) as well as high N input via compost fertilization (GM+MC). Regarding yield stability, the study found that organic fertilization systems only affected the variability of DM in WWL, with the highest variability observed in the FU+FYM system. In conclusion, the study suggests that GM+MC (FS2) and FU+FYM (FS3) have potential for improving crop productivity and nutrient values in organic farming, based on findings from a 10-year investigation. Moreover, during the study period, no adverse effects of a diversified farming system without livestock (FS2: GM+MC) were observed during the study period compared to a manure-based farming system with livestock (FS3: FU+FYM).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 127662"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the AgMIP calibration protocol for crop models; case study and new diagnostic tests","authors":"Daniel Wallach ,&nbsp;Kwang Soo Kim ,&nbsp;Shinwoo Hyun ,&nbsp;Samuel Buis ,&nbsp;Peter Thorburn ,&nbsp;Henrike Mielenz ,&nbsp;Sabine Julia Seidel ,&nbsp;Phillip D. Alderman ,&nbsp;Benjamin Dumont ,&nbsp;Mohammad Hassan Fallah ,&nbsp;Gerrit Hoogenboom ,&nbsp;Eric Justes ,&nbsp;Kurt-Christian Kersebaum ,&nbsp;Marie Launay ,&nbsp;Luisa Leolini ,&nbsp;Muhammad Zeeshan Mehmood ,&nbsp;Marco Moriondo ,&nbsp;Qi Jing ,&nbsp;Budong Qian ,&nbsp;Schulz Susanne ,&nbsp;Taru Palosuo","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Crop simulation models are important tools in agronomy. Typically, they need to be calibrated before being used for new environments or cultivars. However, there is a large variability in calibration approaches, which contributes to uncertainty in simulated values, so it is important to develop improved calibration procedures that are widely applicable. The AgMIP calibration group recently proposed a comprehensive, generic calibration protocol that is directly based on standard statistical parameter estimation in regression models. Weighted least squares (WLS) is used to handle multiple response variables and forward regression using the corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc) is used to select the parameters to be calibrated. The protocol includes two adaptations, which are specific to each model and data set. First, initial approximations to the WLS parameters are obtained by fitting variables one group at a time. Secondly, “major” parameters are identified that are intended to reduce bias, analogously to the constant in linear regression. In this study, new diagnostic tools to be included in the protocol are proposed and tested in a case study. The diagnostics test whether the protocol does indeed lead to good initial approximations to the WLS parameters, and whether the protocol does indeed substantially reduce bias. These diagnostics provide in-depth understanding of the calibration process, reveal problems and help suggest solutions. The diagnostics should increase confidence in the results of the protocol. Having a reliable, generic calibration approach, like the augmented AgMIP protocol, is essential to using crop models more effectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 127659"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selecting crop variables and parameters for the calibration of a new cultivar in a crop model: A case study of winter wheat for STICS","authors":"Meije Gawinowski ,&nbsp;Maël Aubry ,&nbsp;Samuel Buis ,&nbsp;Cécile Garcia ,&nbsp;Jean-Charles Deswarte ,&nbsp;Marie-Odile Bancal ,&nbsp;Marie Launay","doi":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eja.2025.127677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Crop models need to be regularly updated with parameterizations for new cultivars, but this requires calibration, which is a major challenge. Using the winter wheat cultivar Rubisko as a case study, we applied for the first time on experimental data a new calibration protocol to estimate the parameters of the STICS crop model for this new cultivar with multi-trial experimental data. We tested the calibration protocol in different conditions, with or without LAI and/or biomass experimental data, and we found that the resulting LAI and biomass dynamics strongly diverged. This study contributes to provide guidance to modelers for the calibration of a new cultivar in a crop model by focusing on the selection of variables and parameters to estimate as well as criteria for evaluating calibration strategies. With an application to winter wheat for the STICS crop model, this study has shown that the choice of calibration steps has a major impact on simulated outputs, but with a strong dependence on the structure of the experimental dataset. Firstly, this paper provides a methodology for the selection of calibration variables and associated parameters based on three criteria: 1) the relevance of the values of the estimated parameters, 2) the bias part of the mean square error, and 3) the analysis of the residuals. Secondly, by applying this methodology, we have shown that calibration based on LAI measurements is the most robust in the case of sparse observed data at the end of the cycle. Based on these results, we recommend caution when including parameters related to radiation-use efficiency; in particular, they should not be calibrated together with parameters related to leaf growth on biomass data alone. This study has enabled an appropriate calibration strategy to be defined, which will allow more modern French wheat cultivars to be parameterized in the STICS crop model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Agronomy","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 127677"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143907892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}