Model Intercomparisons

Bioenergy-Crop Model

Bioenergy-crop models will be incorporated into the AgMIP suite of assessment and MIP exercises through the development of new field-scale crop model improvement pilot projects and through inclusion in the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI).

Maize

The AgMIP Maize Team’s work is aimed at answering questions such as: Do different maize models give similar responses to climatic factors? Does an ensemble of the models give more reliable prediction of response to climate than individual models? Does model calibration or high level of input information affect the response to factors?

Canola

The aim of this initiative is to develop protocols for inter-comparison and improvement of canola models, and to use a multi-model approach for assessment of canola productivity across different environments and under future climate change.

Wheat

The goals of the AgMIP wheat pilot team are to compare and improve wheat models in order to simulate better the impact of climate change as well as to explore adaptation options for improving both agricultural sustainability and global food security.

Other Studies

Other projects include the Soybean Pilot, Sorghum-Millet Pilot, Peanut/groundnut Pilot and Livestock and Grasslands Pilot.

Crop Water Evapotranspiration Initiative

Improving model processes related to water are of critical importance in the AgMIP model intercomparison and improvement project because crop water deficit is the outcome of uncertain predicted evapotranspiration and difficult-to-model root uptake of soil water, coupled to soil water infiltration, drainage, and soil water-holding traits.

Soil and Crop Rotation Initiative

Crop models have been extensively tested for yields, but their validation for soil water balance, and carbon and nitrogen cycling in agricultural systems has been limited. In this effort we will compare the results of different models in simulating soil variables that carry over from one crop to the next.

Sugarcane

Collaborating scientists are intercomparing their models for response to CO2, temperature, rainfall, and other factors at four sentinel sites representing variation in sugarcane productivity.

Rice

The AgMIP-Rice team plans to intercompare the rice models against growth and data observed in the FACE CO2 experiments in Japan and China, and then to intercompare rice models against data observed in elevated temperature studies conducted in sunlight, controlled environment chambers.