Description
The Cropping Calendar Construction (CCC) model was developed to investigate if it is possible to fit 2 or 3 crops (all the same species) in one year, possibly with a part of the year blocked for growing a crop of another species. The model generates a rerun file which is input for a standalone single crop models (e.g. LINTUL, SUCROS, WOFOST, ORYZA2000). Simulations results of this model are pasted back into the Excel file, then the macro constructs all possible crop rotations (possible in terms of phenology), ranks these from highest to lowest total yield and quantifies "flexibility", i.e. is the crop rotation still possible of delay in sowing occurs, how much delay is possible?
This model is designed for a specific application domain, namely cropping systems with limited carry-over effects and with one main crop. In rainfed systems, water uptake by one crop has a big impact on soil moisture available to the next crop. In such systems, models such as APSIM are better suited. Some crops are more vulnerable to build up of pests and diseases when grown continuously. Such cropping systems are better simulated with models such as PermVeg.
The CCC model was originally developed to test if potato double cropping would be possible in the Netherlands, now and with climate change (combi of CCC model and WOFOST). This was a crazy idea. Later a more realistic application was developed for irrigated rice in the Senegal River Valley (combi of CCC model and adapted versions of ORYZA2000)