Evaluation of DSSAT 4.5-CSM-CERES-Wheat to Simulate Growth and Development, Yield and Phenology Stages of Wheat under Water Deficit Condition (Case Study: Ahvaz Region)

Field experiments for quantifying optimal breeding strategies are time-consuming and expensive. Crop simulation models can provide an alternative، less time-consuming and inexpensive means of determining the optimum breeding strategies. These models consider the complex interactions between weather، soil properties and management factors. CERES-Wheat is one of best models which can simulate the growth and development of wheat. Therefore، in present paper DSSAT 4. 5-CERES-Wheat was evaluated for predicting growth، phenology stages and yield of wheat (cultivar of Chamran) for Ahwaz region. For this purpose، one Experimental research was designed at the experimental farm of the Khuzestan Agriculture And Natural Resources Research Center (KANRC)، located at Ahwaz in 2010-2011 growth season. Using results of this research and two another research، CERES-Wheat model was evaluated. Results of evaluation showed that most and less NRMSE were abtained for simulation of maximum Leaf Area Index (6%) and phenology stages (2%)، respectively. Therefore، it can conclude that CERES-Wheat is a powerful model in order to simulation of growth، phenology stages and yield of wheat.