Integrating crop models into GIS to predict regional crop yield

Interfacing crop models with GIS is a powerful tool to provide crop yield forecasting across a geographic region. The peanut simulation model PNUTGO has been integrated into ArcView GIS to simulate regional peanut yield in this study. The system is fully integrated in that it allows user defined management inputs in a GIS environment and dynamic simulation and output analysis. Spatial weather inputs can be generated by an Access database interface that is dynamically linked to the system. Soil and crop land use information were predetermined and can be added to the system as a plug-in database. Therefore, user-required inputs and parameterizations have been minimized.; To demonstrate the utility of the application in forecasting regional peanut yield in South Carolina, the Climate Outlook was incorporated into the integrated system. This paper describes the basic components and features of the simulation system and presents an example application to demonstrate the utility of the application in forecasting regional peanut yield in South Carolina.