Institut für Pflanzenbau und Bodenkunde
The project aims to establish an international collaboration with Gorgan Agricultural University in Iran to model climate-optimized maize cultivation systems. Maize cultivation is increasingly challenged by adverse weather conditions, which also reduces its climate protection potential. Using process-based soil-plant-atmosphere models, grain maize cultivation in Germany will be investigated under future climatic conditions in relevant growing regions. Virtual experiments, taking into account sowing windows and fertilization strategies, will be comparatively evaluated to identify optimal region-specific adaptation options to climate change. The coupling of process-based modeling with life cycle assessment (LCA) allows for a comprehensive agronomic and ecological evaluation of the alternative cultivation scenarios. The collaboration will leverage existing synergies between the partner institutions, namely the expertise in grain maize physiology and modeling at Gorgan University and the expertise in crop system analysis and LCA at the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI).
German Research Foundation
