Simulating Planting Date Effects on Corn Production Using RZWQM and CERES‐Maize Models

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) production in northeastern Colorado is constrained by a frost‐free period averaging 11 May to 27 September. For optimization of yield, planting at the appropriate time to fit the hybrid maturity length and growing season is critical. Crop models could be used to determine optimum planting windows for a locality. We calibrated the plant parameters of the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) and genetic coefficients for the CERES‐Maize model and validated their performance against experimental data of three corn hybrids varying in days to maturity, planted on three planting dates in 2 yr at Akron, CO, under irrigation. Both models could be calibrated to predict leaf area index, soil water content, crop water use, and yield with similar levels of accuracy. Both models simulated the observed decline in yield with delayed planting date, but CERES‐Maize simulated the yield from the latest planting date much more accurately for all three hybrids than did RZWQM (13% underpredicted by CERES‐Maize; 50% overpredicted by RZWQM). Using the long‐term Akron weather record, the latest planting dates for the short‐, mid‐, and long‐season hybrids to have a 50% chance of achieving a break‐even yield under irrigation were 13 May, 20 May, and 6 May, respectively. Long‐term simulations also revealed that the longer maturity length hybrids lose yield faster than short maturity length hybrids with planting delay. The information generated by either RZWQM or CERES‐Maize can be useful for making both planting and replanting decisions for corn hybrids of varying maturity length in northeastern Colorado.