CPIDS - A PLANT PARAMETER SELECTION PROGRAM FOR EROSION PREDICTION MODELING

Newly developed erosion prediction models require detailed input param eters including those describing cropping systems. Each model exhibits a different level of complexity for crop growth modeling, and many pl ant parameters for these models are difficult to obtain. Furthermore, numerous parameters require interpretation from other measurable plant characteristics. We developed a database containing measurable plant characteristics to supply users of these new erosion prediction techno logies with the necessary parameters. The new database supports the Re vised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Water Erosion Predi ction Project (WEPP) erosion prediction models. The Crop Parameter Int elligent Database System (CPIDS) was developed to assist crop database builders and users of RUSLE and WEPP in interpretation of plant chara cteristics and selection of plant parameters. CPIDS is a Microsoft(R) Windows(R)-based program, currently running on a personal computer (PC ) under Windows 3.1(TM), Windows 95(TM) and Windows NT 4.0(TM). (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.