Evaluation of APEX modifications to simulate forage production for grazing management decision-support in the Western US Great Plains

Cheng, G; Harmel, RD; Ma, L; Derner, JD; Augustine, DJ; Bartling, PNS; Fang, QX; Williams, JR; Zilverberg, CJ; Boone, RB; Hoover, D; Yu, Q

Evaluation of APEX modifications to simulate forage production for grazing management decision-support in the Western US Great Plains

Cheng, G Harmel, RD Ma, L Derner, JD Augustine, DJ Bartling, PNS Fang, QX Williams, JR Zilverberg, CJ Boone, RB Hoover, D Yu, Q

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Agricultural Systems, 2021, 191
Issue Date:: 2021-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cheng, G
dc.contributor.author	Harmel, RD
dc.contributor.author	Ma, L
dc.contributor.author	Derner, JD
dc.contributor.author	Augustine, DJ
dc.contributor.author	Bartling, PNS
dc.contributor.author	Fang, QX
dc.contributor.author	Williams, JR
dc.contributor.author	Zilverberg, CJ
dc.contributor.author	Boone, RB
dc.contributor.author	Hoover, D
dc.contributor.author	Yu, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6950-1821
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-31T23:19:43Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-31T23:19:43Z
dc.date.issued	2021-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Agricultural Systems, 2021, 191
dc.identifier.issn	0308-521X
dc.identifier.issn	1873-2267
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/154011
dc.description.abstract	Context: Understanding how grazing management decisions influence the productivity and composition of rangeland plant communities is essential for the development of effective strategies to sustainably produce multiple ecosystem goods and services. Informed with experimental measurements, simulation models can advance our understanding and stewardship of rangeland ecosystems. Objective: Our main objective was to evaluate the APEX (Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender) plant growth modules and grazing animal selectivity in simulating forage production using experimental data collected from both traditional season-long grazing and adaptive rotational grazing management on western rangelands. Specifically, we evaluated APEX's capability to simulate forage productivity and its response to soil types and climate conditions under grazing management options. Methods: Capitalizing on a comparative field study with 20 large pastures (> 123 ha each), APEX modifications were evaluated by comparing simulated forage production with experimental data. The field study evaluated traditional grazing (season long grazing on a single pasture) and an alternative grazing system that utilized collaborative adaptive rangeland management with stakeholders engaged in decision making (such as when and where to rotate a single herd). APEX was modified to include rotational grazing based on a user-defined sequence and automatic rotational grazing based on user-defined forage grazing limits and minimum/maximum grazing durations. Results and conclusions: The APEX model was able to simulate the relative differences in forage production between grazing treatments, across years, and among soil types; however, APEX underestimated forage production in 2015 and 2017 due to overestimating drought stress for the warm season perennial grass functional group. Simulation of grazing management scenarios showed that the collaborative adaptive management decision criteria resulted in grazing durations that produced more forage than consistent 7- or 14-day rotation intervals. Significance: These modifications were needed to capture the complexity of semiarid environments and thus enhance APEX to better assess grazing management decisions on forage production in regions such as the Western US Great Plains.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Agricultural Systems
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103139
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	05 Environmental Sciences, 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Agronomy & Agriculture
dc.title	Evaluation of APEX modifications to simulate forage production for grazing management decision-support in the Western US Great Plains
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	191
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
utslib.for	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-01-31T23:19:41Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	191

Abstract:

Context: Understanding how grazing management decisions influence the productivity and composition of rangeland plant communities is essential for the development of effective strategies to sustainably produce multiple ecosystem goods and services. Informed with experimental measurements, simulation models can advance our understanding and stewardship of rangeland ecosystems. Objective: Our main objective was to evaluate the APEX (Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender) plant growth modules and grazing animal selectivity in simulating forage production using experimental data collected from both traditional season-long grazing and adaptive rotational grazing management on western rangelands. Specifically, we evaluated APEX's capability to simulate forage productivity and its response to soil types and climate conditions under grazing management options. Methods: Capitalizing on a comparative field study with 20 large pastures (> 123 ha each), APEX modifications were evaluated by comparing simulated forage production with experimental data. The field study evaluated traditional grazing (season long grazing on a single pasture) and an alternative grazing system that utilized collaborative adaptive rangeland management with stakeholders engaged in decision making (such as when and where to rotate a single herd). APEX was modified to include rotational grazing based on a user-defined sequence and automatic rotational grazing based on user-defined forage grazing limits and minimum/maximum grazing durations. Results and conclusions: The APEX model was able to simulate the relative differences in forage production between grazing treatments, across years, and among soil types; however, APEX underestimated forage production in 2015 and 2017 due to overestimating drought stress for the warm season perennial grass functional group. Simulation of grazing management scenarios showed that the collaborative adaptive management decision criteria resulted in grazing durations that produced more forage than consistent 7- or 14-day rotation intervals. Significance: These modifications were needed to capture the complexity of semiarid environments and thus enhance APEX to better assess grazing management decisions on forage production in regions such as the Western US Great Plains.

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