The USDA’s water quality model has been updated, promising to give even more accurate predictions of the way in which plants respond to environmental stimuli.
The model, officially known as Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM), was originally developed in the early 1990s, at the Agricultural Systems Research Unit at Fort Collins, Colorado.
By entering information about their systems, growers can estimate the environmental and economic impacts of a variety of management decisions, including tillage, crop residue management, crop rotations and the timing and rate of chemical applications.
Now, RZWQM2 enhances the original water quality model, with one designed to serve a larger audience in a more user-friendly manner.
A new interface allows input on more components, such as novel crop-modelling technology and subsurface drainage. The team also extended the model's application and improved the parameters involved in modelling the flow of shallow groundwater to tile drains, increasing the model's accuracy.
The model is available for download from the Agricultural Research Service site. It is used by researchers and organisations around the world, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and the pesticide company Bayer CropScience.
