On the use of specific publication criteria for papers on process-based modelling in plant science

The use of process-based modelling is increasing in most disciplines of plant science, but criteria for what is acceptable on nature, modelling work have rarely been made explicit. Unlike empirical work. modelling does not provide direct information and the goal is generally to explain natural phenomena, or predict their consequences, rather than reveal new phenomena or test specific hypotheses. Goals, methods and results of modelling and empirical work thus differ and they should be judged by different criteria. This note shows how the four criteria of explanation, testability, novelty and good modelling practice can be applied to modelling papers in the plant sciences. The practical implementation of these criteria is discussed, and a checklist of eight questions is derived with which papers can be evaluated. To illustrate the use of the criteria, they are applied to a classic publication from the crop modelling literature [Simulation of Assimilation, Respiration and Transpiration of Crops. Pudoc, Wageningen]. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.