Parameterization of ALMANAC crop simulation model for non-irrigated dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico/Parametrización del modelo de simulación de cultivos ALMANAC para frijol en áreas semiáridas templadas de México/Parametrizacao do modelo de simulacao de cultivos ALMANAC para feijao em areas semiaridas temperadas de Mexico

Dry bean simulation models can be used to make management decisions when properly parameterized. This study aimed to parameterize the ALMANAC (Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria) crop simulation model for dry bean in the semi-arid temperate areas of Mexico. The parameterization process was based on data from two important non-irrigated dry bean fields in Mexico. The parameters were potential heat units (PHU), leaf area index (LAI) and harvest index (HI) for both adapted improved cultivars and native cultivars. Model performance with the parameters was evaluated by comparing simulated and measured yields. The model described much of the variability in measured yields; it had a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.26 Mg x [ha.sup.-1]. The mean squared deviation (MSD) was 0.11, and the values of its three components were 0.01 for squared bias (SB), 0.10 for lack of correlation weighted by standard deviation (LCS) and 0.001 for squared difference between standard deviations (SDSD). The derived crop parameters for native cultivars (1000 PHU, 0.3 HI and 0.6 LAI) and for improved cultivars (850-900 PHU, 0.46-0.50 HI and 0.7-1.5 LAI) have potential use for simulating dry bean in semi-arid temperate areas in Mexico.