WOFOST : a simulation model of crop production

The WOFOST simulation model is a tool for analysing the growth and production of field crops under a wide range of weather and soil conditions. Such an analysis is important first to assess to what extent crop production is limited by the factors of light, moisture and macro-nutrients, and second to estimate what improvements are possible. The theoretical concept of a production situation, as modelled by WOFOST, is explained, as is the hierarchy of potential production and water-limited and nutrient-limited production situations in the analysis. The organization of the computer files in the model, the structure of the FORTRAN source program and the available standard sets of data are described briefly. The functions of the most important program sections are discussed. The model can be implemented on many kinds of computers. It can be used on its own, for sitespecific studies of agricultural production potentials. But it can also be coupled to Geographic Information Systems for regional studies, or be used as a data generator for regional agro-economic models. The data on climate, soil and crop, needed for the calculations with WOFOST are specified. However, the general scarcity of comprehensive datasets forms a major constraint for the widespread use of the model in land evaluation.