Agroclimatic model for evaluation of maize behavior in the Cerrado region

Abstract

A study was performed to describe, calibrate and validate a model to estimate the potential yield of the maize crop in the Cerrado region of Brazil. The model is based on meteorological (precipitation and evapotranspiration) and soil (variation in the water stock) parameters and considers the transpiration the most important determinant of the yield potential. The model combines a water balance sub-model and a simplified empirical function that relates the water balance variables with the crop yield. It was observed a good relation (r² = 0,78) between the simulated and the measured values of the water stock variation, as well as a good relation between the simulated and measured yield.