MRB-Rice shell Computer-based research and training package
MRB-rice is a computer-based training package for the teaching and demonstration of issues involved in rice production under different management practices, climate scenario. MRB-rice is easy to use, has minimal data requirements, good visualisation of model calculations, a reasonable level of accuracy and is flexible in terms of the range of rice crop management situations that can be simulated.
Background
Climate and crop growht computer simulation models are increasingly being used as research and teaching tools, as a replacement for, or adjunct to, traditional field or laboratory exercises. There are many climate, crop-livestock simulation models commonly used world-wide, which benefit from many years of development and validation. A majority of the existing models were developed for research use and are therefore unsuitable for educational use and real world applications or can only be used once extensive training in the use of the software has been completed.

The MRB-rice software package
Developed by Multiple Cropping Center at Chiang Mai University, MRB-rice is a daily crop-water balance model that simulates rice growth, soil water and nitrogen relationships in response to different management strategies and climate scenario.

Designed for both training and research uses, attention has been given to the ease of use of the interface, simple parameterisation and clear visualisation of results, rather than to the ultimate accuracy of the prediction, although this remains reasonable.

MRB-rice is available free of charge on the internet or on CD Rom. The package contains:

  • MRB-rice shell software
  • WeaData software for calculation of missing weather data
  • CERES-Rice model software for calculation of crop growth and phenology
  • Spatial database for MRB countries
  • User, technical and tutorial manuals

What it covers
Visualisation of the rice crop simulation - To allow policy makers, growers, and researchers to understand what is happening during simulations, the software uses a dynamic crop-soil water balance in each of the Simulation Mapping Unit (SMU).

  Presentation of results
MRB-rice simulates the crop growth and phenology, soil water and nitrogen dynamics in response to different management strategies (e.g. rice varieties, spacing, planting dates, nitrogen fertilizer application rates and other management practices) and environmental scenarios (e.g. weather data, soil types, cropping patterns). MRB-Rice then enables quick graphical comparisons, between various SMUs.

The software provides the following capabilities:

  • MRB simulates rice yields for each SMU
  • MRB runs on a daily time-step using actual and simulated rainfall from the CCAM climate model
  • Soil characteristics for a multiple-layered soil can be specified.
  • MRB-rice shell can display simulation results

Contributors
Multiple Cropping Center, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Old SWU Pathumwan 5 Building, 5th Floor, Chulalongkorn University, Henri Dunant Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Intended users
MRB-Rice shell has been developed primarily for use as a research and traing tool for agricultural researchers, students and professionals, and policy makers wishing to learn about the impact of possible climate change on rice production.


Available at: For a CD version of the software, including manuals, contact:
Dr. Attachai Jintrawet, Multiple Cropping Center, Chiang Mai Univ., Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 5322 1275, Fax: +66 (0) 5321 0000,
E-mail: attachai@chiangmai.ac.th and

Dr. Anond Snidvongs, Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Old SWU Pathumwan 5 Building, 5th Floor, Chulalongkorn University, Henri Dunant Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2218 9466, Fax: +66 (0) 2251 9416,
E-mail: anond@start.or.th