Comparison of Simulated and Statistical Model Prediction of Wheat at District Scale Yield under Sub-Temperate Climate of North Western Himalayas

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Available online at www.ijpab.com Verma et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 1035-1050 (2017) ISSN: 2320 7051 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5236 ISSN: 2320 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 1035-1050 (2017) Research Article Comparison of Simulated and Statistical Model Prediction of Wheat at District Scale Yield under Sub-Temperate Climate of North Western Himalayas Karan Verma 1*, Ranbir Singh Rana 2, Shivani Thakur 1, and Sahil Salaria 1 1, Ph. D Scholar, 2 Principal Scientist Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh- 176062 India *Corresponding Author E-mail: karanverma2123@gmail.com Received: 17.07.2017 Revised: 25.07.2017 Accepted: 26.07.2017 ABSTRACT Crop growth models were successfully used for forecasting yields of various crops at district and state level. Multiple regression technique was employed to develop models to forecast wheat yield for district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh by using weather and yield data of 25 years (1985 to 2011). Data for two years (2011-12 and 2012-13) was used to calibrate and validate the model. The field experiment were conducted during rabi with three varieties viz., HPW-249, HPW-155 and HPW-42 and four sowing environments viz. 20 th October, 10 th November, 30 th November and 20 th December. The statistical model was validated for at mid-season (F2) and pre harvest stage (F3) corresponding to 15 th March and 15 th April respectively. The sensitive periods of statistical and phenological significance were selected for regression analysis. The GDD decreased with delay in sowing. The crop sown on 20 th October accumulated 153-170 degree days to attain complete emergence, 508 to 591 degree days to vegetative, 781 to 853 degree days to heading stage and 1502 to 1688 degree days to physiological maturity. The simulated LAI, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, days to physiology maturity and vegetative stage matched closely with observed values for all sowing environments. The RMSE values for dry matter accumulation varied from 147 to 348 kg/ha in 2011-12 and 234 to 364 kg/ha in 2012-13. It was observed that the differences between simulated and observed biomass were marginal in early and late sown crops in three cultivars. The RMSE values for leaf area index ranged from 0.5 to 0.2. The differences were higher in early and late sown crop. The RMSE values for yield were 258 kg /ha in 2011-12 and 302 kg/ha in 2012-13. The model performance was either underestimated or overestimated but found within acceptable limits. The predicted yields indicated 1.5, 15.2 and 3.7 percent deviation at mid-season (F2) stage during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively and 1.3, 10.9 and 2.0 percent errors during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively at pre-harvest stage. The yield was found to be more reliable in preharvest (F3) stage for district Kangra. The simulated yield of 2012-13 showed 15.1 higher yield compared to actual yield of the year and more than 18.8 percent higher yield observed compared to statistical model. Hence, In order to augment the accuracy of simulated model yield more farmers practices are to be surveyed to include in the model inputs. Key words: Wheat, Simulation, Validation, Yield forecast, Statistical model prediction. Cite this article: Verma, K., Rana, R.S., Thakur, S. and Salaria, S., Comparison of Simulated and Statistical Model Prediction of Wheat at District Scale Yield under Sub-Temperate Climate of North Western Himalayas, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5(4): 1035-1050 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5236 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1035

INTRODUCTION etc 3. The traditional approach of crop Wheat is the predominant rabi season crop of production estimation in India is based on crop Himachal Pradesh and occupies 10% of cutting experiments (CCE) for forecasting country s acreage and produces nearly 9% of crop yields. The crop acreage and the total yield. The productivity of wheat in corresponding yield estimate data is further the state is around 2.8 tonnes/ha with an area used to obtain production estimates which are and production of 0.36 million hectares and acquired after the crop season is over. These 1.02 million tonnes respectively 2. Though, at emphasis the need to develop the methodology present Himachal Pradesh is self-sufficient in for in-season estimation of crop production. wheat production but there is need to further Hence, an important project was launched by increase its production and productivity to Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India in fulfill the requirement of growing population collaboration with Space Application Centre and to maintain the state s share to national (SAC), Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) production. It is also well known that crop and India Meteorological Department (IMD) productivity is highly dependent on climatic viz., Forecasting Agricultural output using changes and variability. The state experiences Space, Agrometeorology and Land based inadequate and erratically distributed rainfall observations (FASAL). Under this FASAL during critical stages of wheat growth resulting project, IMD in collaboration with 46 Agromet in poor germination and seedling growth of the Field Units (AMFU) located at different parts crop. The low air and soil temperature of the country develops intra-seasonal conditions during initial phases of crop growth operational yield forecast at district and state also results in lower crop productivity 11. In level for 13 major crops of India during kharif order to sustain agricultural productivity under and rabi seasons using statistical model 8. The large range of climatic variations there is need statistical models utilized crop growth to quantify the growth and yield of important parameters for yield predictions. This crops and to identify suitable adaptation approach does not easily lead to an measures. Crop growth models have explanation of the cause and effect relationship considerable potential in exploration of crop but is a practical approach for assessment of management and policy decisions for yield. The coefficients in such models and the implementations and adapting to current and validity of the estimates depend to a large future climate change 4,13. Crop growth models extent on the design of the model as well as on can be used effectively for evaluating the representativeness of the input data. crops/varieties and other management Dadhwal and Ray reported use of such practices to optimize and stabilize production regression models for district level yield under various soil types and agro-climatic forecasting in India. However, the regressionbased conditions. The models can be used for models are highly variable and do not determining the production potential of a consistently provide adequate accuracy for location, for matching agro-technology with larger areas since they are empirical in nature. the farmers resources, analyzing yield gaps, The variables used in the regression models to forecasting yields, and assessing the impact of increase the accuracy (or the R-square) cannot climatic variability and climate changes on be of global application as such variables agriculture 1. Infocrop is a dynamic crop yield differ from region to region. In the present model and has capacity to evaluate the paper, in order to demonstrate the production of major annual crops and has an methodology for crop yield forecast through inbuilt database of Indian soils 1. regression technique along with the Advance estimates of production in interpretations, the relevant data of wheat, major crops are required by the Government being the predominant crop in the State, have for taking various policy decisions relating to been used. Keeping these points in view, the pricing, marketing, distribution, export/import present study was undertaken to develop Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1036

multiple crop yield forecasts using simulations and land based observations for wheat crop in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. MATERIALS AND METHODS Model Description Info Crop, a process based model considers the processes such as crop growth and development (phenology, photosynthesis, partitioning, leaf area growth, storage organ numbers, source: sink balance, transpiration, uptake, allocation and redistribution of nitrogen), effects of water, nitrogen, temperature, flooding and frost stresses on crop growth and development, crop-pest interactions (damage mechanisms of insects and diseases), soil water balance, soil nitrogen balance, soil organic carbon dynamics, emissions of green house gases and climate change module. Model input requirements The input data files required for running the INFOCROP growth model are crop/variety master, soil texture master and weather data files. Crop/variety file: is used to enter the crop variety details and its parameters. The attributes of three varieties of mustard recommended for region recorded from field experiments were added in the file. Weather file: Daily bright sunshine hours, daily maximum and minimum temperature, wind speed, rainfall and physiographic attributes of the meteorological stations were entered to prepare the weather file for Palampur region. The model calculates itself vapour pressure to run the model. For calibration and validation of the model weather data of recorded from Agro meteorological observatory, situated in CSKHPKV, Palampur was used. Soil texture file: For three soil layers depth (mm) the parameters like organic carbon (%), soil texture (sand, silt, clay %), bulk density, hydraulic saturated conductivity and NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N content were input in the soil files representing the soils of Palampur conditions. Crop management: Agronomic attributes required in the model were recorded and updated in the model e.g. Seed rate, specific leaf area of variety, grain weight, date of sowing, dates of irrigation and fertilizer application etc. Calibration and validation of model The two field experiments comprising three varieties and four dates of sowing were conducted to generate data for calibration and validation of the model. The field experiments were conducted during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13 at the research farm of the Department of Agronomy, Forage and Grassland Management, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur (32 6 N, 76 3 E and 1290.8 m amsl). The soil was silty clay loam in texture with ph 5.7 and available N, P and K were 316, 16.7 and 298 kg/ha respectively. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatment combination comprised of four sowing dates 20 October (D1), 10 November (D2) and 30 November (D3) and 20 December (D4)) and three varieties (HPW-249 (V1), HPW-155 (V2) and HPW-42 (V3). The crop was grown with all recommended package and practice for the experimental stations. The crop experienced well distributed rainfall of 509.2mm and 475.5mm during the crop season in 2011-12 and 20012-13 respectively. The crop was inspected at frequent intervals to monitor the phenological events closely. Data on phenology, leaf area, dry matter accumulation, and yield were recorded for calibration of the model. Crop coefficients for mustard were calculated by using information from field experiments and a wide literature survey. Further calibration of these coefficients was done by the observations recorded from the field experiment conducted. These coefficients were used in the subsequent validation and application. Statistical analysis Model performance using the coefficients developed was evaluated by calculating residual mean square error (RMSE). The RMSE describes mean absolute deviation between simulated and observed and accuracy of simulation is characterized by lower RMSE. Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1037

n (Si-Ob) 2 RMSE = i=1 n Where, n is the number of observations; Si and Ob are simulated and observed values, respectively, at the i th observation. Crop yield prediction through statistical modeling The wheat crop yield data for the district Kangra was collected from the Department of Agriculture, Himachal Pradesh for the past 25 years since 1985-2011 was utilized in the present analysis for the preparation of forecast using statistical technique. The daily weather data viz. maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), morning relative humidity (RHI), evening relative humidity (RHII) and rainfall (RF) were arranged week-wise from the date of sowing to flowering stage of wheat and the relation between weather parameters and yield was determined using statistical correlation and regression analysis. To study the joint effects of weather variables on wheat yield, the model used for studying effect of individual weather variables 6 had been extended by including interaction terms as per the IASRI, New Delhi guidelines 7. The modified model used is: Y A 0 p 2 a Z ij ij i 1 j 0 i i' 1 j 0 p 2 a ii' j Z ii' j bt e Z ij Z ii ' m r w 1 m r j w 1 j iw j ii' w X iw X X ' iw i w where, riw = correlation coefficient of yield with ith weather variable in wth period rii w = correlation coefficient of yield with product of ith and i th weather variable in wth period m = number of meteorological weeks considered for forecast p = number of weather variables used c = random error distribution as N (0, σ2) In this model, for each weather variable, two types of indices were developed, one as simple total values of weather variable in different periods (un-weighted index-zi0) and the other one as weighted total (weighted index-zi1) weights being correlation coefficients between yield de-trended yield (if trend is present) and weather variable in respective periods. On similar lines, for studying joint effects, un-weighted and weighted indices for interactions were computed with products of weather variables (taken two at a time). Regression analysis was used for fitting equation taking yield as dependent variable and considering year and weather as independent variable using the SPSS software. Test criteria have been separated into two groups, called summary measures and difference measures. The summary measures describe the quality of simulation while, the difference measures try to locate and quantify the errors such as Root Mean Square error (RMSE). These were calculated according to Willmott (1982) as follows and were based on terms (Pi-Oi): RMSE [ ( ) ] RMSE indicate the magnitude of the average error, but provide no information on the relative size of the average difference between forecasted/predicted yield (P) and observed yield (O). The statistical model was validated for wheat crop at the mid-season (F2) and preharvest stage (F3) corresponding to 15 th March and 15 th April respectively. The wheat yield was predicted using the Info Crop growth simulation model for district of Kangra. For fertilizers dose of NPK used by farmers, farmers from located in different blocks of district surveyed and ddat of ECF AICRIP Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1038

cropping system was used. The previous year statistics of fertilizer use for the district were also considered 2. The 50 kg NPK dose was used to simulate the yield productivity of the wheat crop for district Kangra and model was run for past five years 2010-2012. The seed rate of 120 kg was used and no irrigation was given to simulate the predicted yield simulation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Validation of Info Crop model Phenology Days to vegetative stage Simulated days to vegetative stage were compared with observed data for different treatments. The Info crop model simulated the days to vegetative stage between -4 to +4 days of the observed days (Fig 1). The root mean square error (RMSE) value for days taken vegetative stage was 6.3 days during 2011-12 and 8.6 days during 2012-13, this means good fit of model for this parameter. Days to physiological maturity The simulated days to physiological maturity were estimated between -6 to +5 days of the observed field data for different varieties (Fig. 2). The root mean square error (RMSE) values for days taken to maturity were 9.2 days during 2011-12 and 10.3 during 2012-13. Sharma and Kumar (2005) validated DSSAT model and observed RMSE of 1.73. Growth and yield Leaf area index (LAI) Info Crop model was evaluated for leaf area index (LAI) of wheat measured at different crop growth stages (Fig. 3 to 6). The root mean square error (RMSE) values for leaf area index ranged from 0.10 to 0.17. The differences were higher in early and late sown crop. The results are in conformity with Singh et al., 2013. The RMSE values from 0.08 to 0.11 for maximum LAI of wheat crop were obtained while validating WOFOST model by Mishra et al., 2013. Dry matter production The root mean square error (RMSE) values for dry matter accumulation ranged from 182.1 to 489.6 kg /ha in 2011-12 and 199.5 to 499.5 kg/ha in 2012-13 (Fig 7 to 10). The lower value of RMSE indicated good fit of model for this parameter. Similar results were reported by Sharma and Kumar (2005) under Palampur conditions. Yield Info crop model was validated for simulating wheat yield for Palampur location using wide range of yield data for dates of sowing and varieties. The economic yield simulated by model corresponded well with that actually observed in the field (Fig.11 & 12). The root mean square error (RMSE) value for yield was 258.3 kg/ha in 2011-12 and 302.4 kg/ha in 2012-13 which was 7-8 percent higher from the observed yields. Sharma and Kumar (2005) also observed less than 10 per cent variations in simulated and observed grain yields in wheat under similar environmental conditions while validating DSSAT crop model. Mishra et al., 2013 reported RMSE values between 70 to 92 kg /ha for grain yield in wheat using WOFOST model. Simulated Wheat yield prediction in district Kangra using Info Crop Model: The wheat crop productivity was predicted using Info-Crop model. The Inputs used by farmers were surveyed and similar inputs values were used to predict the yield. The 16.5 % higher wheat yield was predicted in comparison to statistical model and more than 18.8 higher yield compared to actual productivity reported by Department of revenue GOHP. The simulated yield predicted in general was higher than both actual and statistical model. Wheat yield prediction in district Kangra using statistical regression models Multiple regression technique with the yield data for the period of 1985-2009 was used in developing model for wheat crop yield forecasting for the year 2011-12 and 2012-13. The yield predicted for the year 2012-13 was 1702.6 kg ha-1 and 1732.7 kg ha-1 at F2 and F3 stage, respectively. The forecast obtained from the regression equation revealed the deviation in yield prediction as low as 1.2 percent at F3 stage in the validation year 2009-10. During the yield simulation for the Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1039

validation of the year 2011-12, the deviation and 1.3, 10.9 and 2.0 percent errors during percentage in the yield was 3.7 and 2.0 percent 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively at for F2 and F3 stage, respectively (Table 4.16). pre-harvest stage. The yield was more reliable The amount of variation in the deviation error in F3 stage for district Kangra. Similar results percentage as explained by the fitted were also reported by Devi et al. 5 under Assam regression equations in terms of R2 values conditions for rice crop. The model predicted which differed from mid-season F2 stage to 10 to 14.5 percent deviation in rice yield pre harvest F3 stage indicated improvement in compared to actual productivity and yield the forecast model. The results revealed that variation was 10 to 18.1 per cent in different more reliable forecasts can be obtained when districts under study. Neeraj et al. (2014) the crops are at the pre harvest stage of the predicted the wheat yield using multiple crop. The yield of wheat was predicted using regression model at district scale in Gujarat. statistical regression model and validated with The study revealed the wheat yield variation observed data. The predicted yields indicated to the tune of -8.27 to 11.51% at Navsari and - 1.5, 15.2 and 3.7 percent at F2 stage during 12.07 to 6.86% at Bharuch district. 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively Fig. 1: Observed and Simulated days to vegetative stage during 2011-12 and 2012-13 Fig. 2: Observed and Simulated days to physiological maturity during 2011-12 and 2012-13 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1040

Fig. 3: Observed and simulated LAI of wheat varieties sown on 20 th October to 10 th November during 2011-12 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1041

Fig. 4: Observed and simulated LAI of wheat varieties sown on 10 th November to 20 th December during 2011-12 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1042

Fig. 5: Observed and simulated LAI of wheat varieties sown on 20 th October to 10 th November during 2012-13 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1043

Fig. 6: Observed and simulated LAI of wheat varieties sown on 30 th November to 20 th December during 2011-12 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1044

Fig. 7: Observed and simulated dry matter kg ha -1 of wheat varieties sown on 20 th October to 10 th November during 2011-12 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1045

Fig. 8: Observed and simulated dry matter kg ha -1 of wheat varieties sown on 30 th November to 20 th December during 2011-12 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1046

Fig. 9: Observed and simulated dry matter kg ha -1 of wheat varieties sown on 20 th October to 10 th November during 2012-13 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1047

Fig. 10: Observed and simulated dry matter kg ha -1 of wheat varieties sown on 10 th November to 20 th December during 2012-13 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1048

Table 1: Regression models and prediction of Rabi wheat yield at mid-season (F2) and pre-harvest (F3) stage Equation Statistical model Average yield Error (%) from statistical model Predicted yield (kg ha -1 ) 2012-13 (Last 10 yrs) (kg ha -1 ) 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 F2 equation Y = 1160.634742+1.895728* Z241 + 0.079382*Z341 F3 equation Y=1823.924389+1.832711*Z1211+4.896764*Z31+ 6.173853*Z51 1702.6 1395.1 1740 2.23 1732.7 1395.1 1740 0.5 Z241 - weighted weather index of Minimum Temperature and Relative humidity (morning) Z341 - weighted weather index of Rainfall and Relative humidity (morning) Z121 - weighted weather index of Maximum temperature and Minimum temperature Z31 - weighted weather index of Rainfall Z51 - weighted weather index Relative humidity (evening) 1774 4.19 1774 2.38 1790 5.13 1790 3.30 Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1049

Table 2: Comparison of district productivity of wheat in district Kangra using Info crop Model Equation F2 equation F3 equation Statistical model Predicted yield (kg ha - 1 ) 2012-13 Simulated Predicted yield 2012-13 Percent change in productivity from statistical model to simulated yield Average yield (last 3 yrs, 2010 to 2013) (kg ha -1 ) Percent change in productivity from three years average to simulated yield Actual yield (2012-2013) (kg ha -1 ) Error (%) from Simulated yield to 2012-13 1702.6 2060 +20.9 1768 +16.5 1790 +15.1 1732.7 2060 +18.9 1768 +16.5 1790 +15.1 REFERENCES 1. Agrawal, R., Ramakrishna, Y.S., Rao, K., Kumar, A.V.R., Bhar, A., Lal, M., Mohan, M and Saksena A. 2003/2005. Modeling for forecasting of crop yield using weather parameter and agricultural input. (AP Cess Fund project report). 2. Anonymous. Statistical outline of Himachal Pradesh 2013-14, Directorate of land records, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla (2014). 3. Bal, S.K., Mukherjee, J., Mallick, K and Hundal, S.S. 2004. Wheat yield forecasting model for Ludhiana district of Punjab state. Journal of Agrometeorology 6 (Special Issue):161-165 4. Boote, K.J., Jones, J.W. and Pickering, N.B., Potential uses and limitations of crop models. Agron J., 88: 704-716 (1996). 5. Devi, M., Hussain, R., Sarma, A and Sarmah K., Yield prediction of winter rice employing meteorological variables in central and upper Brahmaputra valley zone of Assam. Journal of Agrometeorolgy 15: 162-166 (2013). 6. Jain, R.C., Agrawal, R. and Jha, M.P., Effect of climate variables on rice yield and its forecast, Mausam 31: 4 591-596 (1980). 7. Jain, R.C., Jha, M.P. and Agrawal, R., Use of growth indices in yield forecast. Biometrical Journals 27: 4 435-429 (1985). 8. Ghosh, K, Balasubramanian, R., Bandopadhyay, S., Chattopadhyay, N., Singh, K.K., and Rathore, L.S., Development of crop yield forecast models under FASAL- a case study of kharif rice in West Bengal. Journal of Agrometeorology 16 (1): 1-8 (2014). 9. Kumar, N., Pisal, R. R., Shukla,S. P. and Pandey, K. K., Crop yield forecasting of paddy, sugarcane and wheat through linear regression technique for south Gujarat. Mausam, 65(3): (July), 361-364 (2014). 10. Mishra, S.K., Shekh, A.M., Yadav, S.B., Kumar, A., Pandey, V. and Patel, H.R., Simulation of growth and yield of four wheat cultivars using WOFOST model under middle Gujarat region. Journals of Agro meteorology 15: 1 43-50 (2013). 11. Prasad, R., Rao, V.U.M. and Rao, C.S., Agrometeorology of wheat in Himachal Pradesh state of India. CSK HPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh and CRIDA Hyderabad, India. pp. 51. (2015). 12. Ram, H., Singh, G., Mavi, G.S. and Sohu V.S., Accumulated heat unit requirement and yield of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties under different crop growing environment in central Punjab 14: 2 147-153 (2012). 13. Tsuji, G.Y., Hoogrnboom, G And Thornton, P.K., Understanding options for agricultural development. Kluwer Academic Publ, Dordrecht, the Netherlands (1998). 14. Willmott, C,J., Some comments on the evaluation of model performance. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 63: 1309-1313 (1982). Copyright August, 2017; IJPAB 1050