ABSTRACT
Mathematical models are tools to estimate and understand system behaviors against diverse situations; they may help in decision-making through simplified representations of the reality, allowing simulating various scenarios and estimating impacts of different courses of action on production systems, assisting thus in activity planning. Thus, this paper proposed a simulation of corn crop yields according to different field experiment characteristics and weather conditions in which it was conducted, with the purpose of setting a simulation model already calibrated and tested for corn crop cycle in the region of Santiago – RS, Brazil. The increasing water levels had a positive effect on grain yield and corn dry matter. On the other hand, a level of 800 mm reduced corn yield, as well as water application efficiency decreased from 550 mm. The proposed model can be used as a tool for regional planning in corn crop implementation under irrigation and enables identifying irrigation strategies for high grain yields, being considered a tool for yield prediction in irrigated crops.
Zea mays L.; irrigation strategies; yield model
