IT architecture of the MARS crop yield forecasting system

The Crop Growth Monitoring System (CGMS) provides operational services and analysis tools to the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) in the area of crop monitoring and crop yield forecast, as part the MARS Crop Yield Forecasting System

Evapotranspiration modules for crop growth simulation. Implementation of the algorithms from Penman, Makkink and Priestley-Taylor

Calculation of evapotranspiration is essential for the estimation of crop water use or for studying the effect of drought stress on crop performance with simulation models. Several methods are available for calculation of evapotranspiration. This report describes three different methods : the Penman method (1948) and the approaches of Makkink (1957) and Priestley -Taylor (1972). The modules described in this report are developed for use in general crop growth models for water-limited conditions, such as in Van Laar et al. (1992). The application of the modules, however, is not limited to the SUCROS type models