A MODIFIED VERSION OF CERES-MAIZE MODEL FOR PREDICTING CROP RESPONSE TO SALINITY STRESS

A new saline stress index was developed for CERES-Maize, a computer mo del of maize growth and development, in order to simulate crop respons e to irrigation with saline water in Mediterranean conditions. Changes from the original model consisted in modifying the estimation of the stress coefficient, which was defined as a function of predawn leaf wa ter potential. The study was carried out at the Mediterranean Agronomi c Institute of Bari using a set-up of 30 drainage lysimeters. Linear r egression between mean simulated and measured data showed that the mod el performed well for final grain yield though it tended to underestim ate (similar to 8%) above-ground biomass and maximum leaf area index ( LPI). The largest evapotranspiration over-estimations were found early in the growing season immediately after each irrigation event. Howeve r, the prediction of seasonal evapotranspiration was generally reasona bly good. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.