ABSTRACT
Crop simulation models are computer programs that simulate the dynamics of the soilcrop system using mathematical equations that represent key processes such as crop development, crop water use, biomass accumulation and partitioning to the different plant components/organs. Weather data, soil and crop information, and management details are used as inputs to simulate process rates and system status (e.g. soil water and nitrogen content, rooting depth, canopy cover, biomass, cane yield and sucrose content). Although models rely on many assumptions and simplifications, they provide objective methods of predicting responses in the cropping system to management, soil, climatic and genetic factors. They can therefore be used to predict the behaviour of the system for given agroclimatic cropping situations. This functionality can be applied for feasibility assessments of new projects, designing production management frameworks, benchmarking agronomic performance and supporting operational production management.
