Principles of Climate/Crop Yield Modeling and other Agroclimatic Assessment Tools with Operational Procedures for Agricultural Belize

摘要

Climate/crop yield models and agroclimatic indices provide early warning information prior to harvest on the potential for crop losses due to adverse weather and can be used to monitor crop progress during the growing season. Such models can potentially improve food supply management in conjunction with economic planning. A 4-week training program in applied agroclimatological analysis and crop condition assessment procedures for use in Belize was held at the Center for Environmental Assessment Services in Columbia, Missouri. This report of the program describes, documents, and analyzes agroclimatic conditions in Belize; defines agroclimatic crop indices (yield moisture, potential and actual evapotranspiration and their ratio, soil and crop moisture).