YIELD AND NITROGEN UPTAKE PREDICTION BY CERES-MAIZE MODEL UNDER SEMIARID CONDITIONS

Quantitative relationships between N and irrigation management on crop yield and NO3- leaching is urgently needed for economical and environ mental analyses. Validity of the CERES-Maize (version 2.10) model unde r arid conditions was evaluated for 3-yr irrigation and fertilizer man agement trials conducted at Davis, CA. The N was applied at rates of 0 , 90, 180, and 360 kg N ha and irrigation amounts were 20, 60, and 100 cm. The slope of the regression line between measured and simulated g rain yield was 1.003 with r(2) = 0.936. The slope of the regression li ne between measured and simulated N uptake was 1.013 with r(2) = 0.946 . We concluded that the CERES-Maize model may be applied with confiden ce to study effects of N and irrigation management on corn (Zea mays L .) yield and N uptake under irrigated semiarid or arid conditions.