PROGRAM IN BASIC TO ESTIMATE THE MAXIMUM CLIMATIC YIELD

Abstract

This paper shows a computational algorithm developed to simplify the application of a method that was proposed by FAO, for the estimation of maximum climatic yield of any of the following five crops: lucerne (Medicago sativa), corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.) and spring and winter wheats (Triticum spp.). Such method is based upon the criterion developed in the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement of Wageningen, The Netherlands. The method is applied through a procedure which estimates variables and crop and climatic parameters, by a series of tabula-tions; for this, the tabulations were transformed to polynomial and sinusoidal equations obtained by optimization and then, their coefficients were related to latitude and the number of the day of the year. At the end, several operative characteristics of the computer program are mentioned, two numerical applications are described and some remarks are formulated.