Systems Informatics and Analysis - Engineering and Science of Biomass Feedstock Production and Provision - page 198

the applications, and important results at selected sites. WIMOVAC and BioCro use the biochemical
approach to model biomass production, while all other models use the RUE (radiation use effi ciency)
approach. MISCANMOD/MISCANFOR is applicable only to Miscanthus, while other models are
applicable to many other energy and agricultural crops

Annual yield (dry
matter) prediction
at selected sites

Region studied
using the model Model Features

EPIC Assesses the relationship

between soil erosion and
soil productivity; studies
the impact of climate
change

Missouri-Iowa-
Nebraska- Kansas

Switchgrass:
12.8 Mg ha −1 (Ames,
IA) and 9.8 Mg ha −1
(Mead, NE)

ALMANAC Process-based model capable

of simulating intercrop
competition for nutrient,
sunlight, and other
resources

Southeastern USA
(Texas, Arkansas,
and Louisiana)

Switchgrass:
15.34 ± 3.57 Mg ha −1
(mean across fi ve
sites)

SWAT Developed to study the

impact of different land
management practices
on water, sediment,
and agricultural
chemical yield

Yazoo River basin,
Mississippi, South
Carolina, Arkansas,
Kansas

11 Mg ha −1 (switchgrass
at Yazoo River
basin, MS);
34 Mg ha −1
(Miscanthus at
Yazoo River basin,
MS)

CENTURY/
DAYCENT

Developed to study the
biogeochemistry of
terrestrial ecosystems, in
particular the relationship
between climate, soil
properties, human
management, and plant
productivity

Central Valley
of California

2.0-41.4 Mg ha −1 in
California,
accounted for
66-90 % of
observed variation

WIMOVAC Enzyme-kinetic model

using a semi-mechanistic
understanding to calculate
the photosynthesis and
transpiration; strong
informatics component
with standardized
Windows interface

Model parameterized
for Miscanthus ×
giganteus for
England but used
to simulate yields
across various
European sites

Miscanthus × giganteus
yields predictions
ranging from very
low to about
40 Mg ha −1 matched
well with observed
yields with r 2 = 0.84

MISCANMOD/
MISCANFOR

Daily simulation time step
using climate data and
Miscanthus- specifi c
parameters

Various sites in Europe
including England,
Germany, Denmark,
Portugal, Ireland,
and the Netherlands;
Midwestern USA

17.3 Mg ha −1
(Denmark);
23.1 Mg ha −1
(England and
Germany);
41.1 Mg ha −1
(Portugal)

BioCro Mechanistic; includes

parameter estimation
using optimization
routines

Average
Miscanthus × giganteus
and switchgrass yield
in conterminous USA
over 32 years of
simulation

Switchgrass:
1-40 Mg ha −1
with mean of
11.6 Mg ha −1 ;
Miscanthus ×
giganteus : good
prediction for
Illinois, validation
at other locations
limited