Integrated crop-livestock simulation models for scenario analysis and impact assessment

cg.creator.identifierPhilip Thornton: 0000-0002-1854-0182en_US
cg.creator.identifierMario Herrero: 0000-0002-7741-5090en_US
cg.issn0308-521Xen_US
cg.journalAgricultural Systemsen_US
cg.subject.ilriFARMING SYSTEMSen_US
cg.subject.ilriLIVESTOCKen_US
dc.contributor.authorThornton, Philip K.en_US
dc.contributor.authorHerrero, Marioen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-06T06:59:55Zen_US
dc.date.available2013-05-06T06:59:55Zen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/28103en_US
dc.titleIntegrated crop-livestock simulation models for scenario analysis and impact assessmenten_US
dcterms.abstractDespite the fact that many smallholder farming systems in developing countries revolve around the interactions of crop and livestock enterprises, the modelling of these systems using combinations of detailed crop and livestock models is comparatively underdeveloped. A wide variety of separate crop and livestock models exists, but the nature of crop-livestock interactions, and their importance in smallholder farming systems, makes their integration difficult. Even where there is adequate understanding of the biophysical processes involved, integrated crop-livestock models may be constrained by lack of reliable data for calibration and validation. The construction from scratch of simulation models that meet the needs of one particular case is generally too costly to countenance. As for all modelling activity, the most efficient way to proceed depends on the nature of the systems under study and the precise questions that have to be addressed. We outline a framework for the integration of detailed biophysical crop and livestock simulation models. We highlight the need for minimum calibration and validation data sets, and conclude by listing various research problems that need attention. The application of robust and trustworthy crop-livestock models is critical for furthering the research agenda associated with animal agriculture in the tropics and subtropics.en_US
dcterms.accessRightsLimited Accessen_US
dcterms.bibliographicCitationAgricultural Systems;70(2/3): 581-602en_US
dcterms.extentp. 581-602en_US
dcterms.issued2001en_US
dcterms.languageenen_US
dcterms.subjectcropsen_US
dcterms.subjectfarming systemsen_US
dcterms.subjectlivestocken_US
dcterms.subjectsimulation modelsen_US
dcterms.subjectsmall farmsen_US
dcterms.typeJournal Articleen_US

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