COMBINING CROP GROWTH-MODELS AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION-SYSTEMS FORAGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT - A CASE-STUDY OF LEY PRODUCTION POTENTIAL ASAFFECTED BY LOCAL TEMPERATURE-VARIATION AND SOIL-WATER CAPACITY

A crop growth model was integrated with a geographical information sys tem (GIS) in order to quantify the impact of local temperature variati on and soil water capacity on ley production. At most, local temperatu re differences resulted in a 5% difference in estimated grass yields d uring a dry year. The yield was on average 50% lower in sandy soils co mpared with clay soils. As compared with a year with normal precipitat ion, the estimated yield was about 40% lower in sandy soils and 15-20% lower in clay soils. A combined application of crop growth models, to poclimatic information and GIS can be a useful tool in resource mappin g and agricultural planning and management.