FarmSim: an integrated crop – livestock model developed to analyse African smallholder farm systems

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    General
    Name
    FarmSim
    Program type
    integrated crop – livestock model
    Available since
    Description

    FARMSIM consists of a crop-soil (FIELD), a livestock (LIVSIM) and a manure (HEAPSIM) module that are functionally integrated to allow capturing feedbacks between these identities at farm scale, as affected by farmers’ management decisions. FIELD simulates long-term changes in soil fertility (C, N, P and K), interactions between nutrients that determine crop production, and crop responses to management interventions such as mineral fertiliser and/or manure applications. Different fields within a farm represent combinations of crop types and sets of soil properties. Simulation of livestock productivity, growth and herd dynamics is done with LIVSIM, while nutrient cycling through manure is simulated with HEAPSIM.

     

    For instructions on installing and running the model, please consult the user's guide under 'Download documents'.

    Scale of application
    field
    Spatial resolution
    ha
    Key outputs

    FIELD:

    • Soil carbon and nutrient dynamics 
    • Crop yield

    LivSim:

    • Cattle body weight
    • Milk production
    • Manure production

     

    Time horizon
    years
    Time step of modeling
    month
    Required to run

    R-version 3.0.0 or higher with add-on package 'abind' installed.

    Required to develop

    R-version 3.0.0 or higher with add-on package 'abind' installed and R-tools 2.15 or higher.

    Database I/O
    none
    Background information
    Articles

    Mark T. van Wijk, Pablo Tittonell, Mariana C. Rufino, Mario Herrero, Cesare Pacini, Nico de Ridder, Ken E. Giller. Identifying key entry-points for strategic management of smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa using the dynamic farm-scale simulation model NUANCES-FARMSIM. 10.1016/j.agsy.2009.07.004

    P. Tittonell, S. Zingore, M.T. van Wijk, M. Corbeels, K.E. Giller. Nutrient use efficiencies and crop responses to N, P and manure applications in Zimbabwean soils: Exploring management strategies across soil fertility gradients. 10.1016/j.fcr.2006.09.003

     

     

    Applications & Use

    Analyses of crop-livestock interactions in small-holder African farming systems.

    Author(s)
    Pablo Tittonell, Mariana Rufino, Mark van Wijk
    Address
    WUR, Plant Production Systems, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands