Development of the crop simulation system DIASPORA

Crop growth models are usually split into two opposite groups: complex comprehensive and simplified applied. The objective of this paper is to show how the different models ran be used together to form an integrated crop modeling system. The software engineering methods that are employed include the needs of potential users in the system requirements. As a specific example, the process of development and implementation of an integrated crop simulation system, DIASPORA (DIAlog Simulator and PredictOr for Research in Agriculture), is described. The DIASPORA system is primarily designed to make more effective use of the field treatment data collected at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture (LIA) and to allow a multitasking application of crop growth and development models. To achieve these tasks, a simulation environment has been developed that includes the complex simulation model, model database, multilingual user interface, and the set of simplified models for particular applications. Three local research stations of the LIA-Traku Voke (south-eastern Lithuania), Dotnuva (central Lithuania), and Vezhaichai (western Lithuania)-serve as sources of experimental information, and therefore, as sites for further implementation of the system. The models of cereal crops implemented within the system have also been verified using experimental data sets from several regions in Russia; Gornyj Lozen in Bulgaria; and Morris, MN, USA.