The roles of diurnal temperature in providing heat accumulation and chilling requirements for vegetation spring phenology differ.Although previous studies have established a stronger correlation between leaf onset and...The roles of diurnal temperature in providing heat accumulation and chilling requirements for vegetation spring phenology differ.Although previous studies have established a stronger correlation between leaf onset and diurnal temperature than between leaf onset and average temperature,current research on modeling spring phenology based on diurnal temperature indicators remains limited.In this study,we confirmed the start of the growing season(SOS)sensitivity to diurnal temperature and average temperature in boreal forest.The estimation of SOS was carried out by employing K-Nearest Neighbor Regression(KNR-TDN)model,Random Forest Regres-sion(RFR-TDN)model,eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGB-TDN)model and Light Gradient Boosting Machine model(LightGBM-TDN)driven by diurnal temperature indicators during 1982-2015,and the SOS was projected from 2015 to 2100 based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6)climate scenario datasets.The sensitivity of boreal forest SOS to daytime temperature is greater than that to average temperature and nighttime temperature.The LightGBM-TDN model perform best across all vegetation types,exhibiting the lowest RMSE and bias compared to the KNR-TDN model,RFR-TDN model and XGB-TDN model.By incorporating diurn-al temperature indicators instead of relying only on average temperature indicators to simulate spring phenology,an improvement in the accuracy of the model is achieved.Furthermore,the preseason accumulated daytime temperature,daytime temperature and snow cover end date emerged as significant drivers of the SOS simulation in the study area.The simulation results based on LightGBM-TDN model exhibit a trend of advancing SOS followed by stabilization under future climate scenarios.This study underscores the potential of diurn-al temperature indicators as a viable alternative to average temperature indicators in driving spring phenology models,offering a prom-ising new method for simulating spring phenology.展开更多
Spring returns with every thing growing.As the f irst high-level forum held after the Two Sessions,the China Development Forum(hereinaf ter refer red to as the Forum)brought together Chinese and foreign political and ...Spring returns with every thing growing.As the f irst high-level forum held after the Two Sessions,the China Development Forum(hereinaf ter refer red to as the Forum)brought together Chinese and foreign political and business people and became a weathervane for observing China’s economy.展开更多
This study investigates the dynamical behavior of two parallel fluid-conveying pipes by developing a non-planar dynamical model of the two pipes coupled with an intermediate spring. A systematic analysis is conducted ...This study investigates the dynamical behavior of two parallel fluid-conveying pipes by developing a non-planar dynamical model of the two pipes coupled with an intermediate spring. A systematic analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of spring parameters on the non-planar vibration characteristics and buckling behaviors of the coupled system. The nonlinear governing equations are derived with Hamilton's principle,subsequently discretized through Galerkin's method, and finally numerically solved by the Runge-Kutta algorithm. Based on the linearized equations, an eigenvalue analysis is performed to obtain the coupled frequencies, modal shapes, and critical flow velocities for buckling instability. Quantitative assessments further elucidate the effects of the spring position and stiffness coefficient on the coupled frequencies and critical flow velocities.Nonlinear dynamic analyses reveal the evolution of buckling patterns and bifurcation behaviors between the lateral displacements of the two pipes and the flow velocity. Numerical results indicate that the intermediate spring increases the susceptibility to buckling instability in the out-of-plane direction compared with the in-plane direction. Furthermore, synchronized lateral displacements emerge in both pipes when the flow velocity of one pipe exceeds the critical threshold. This work is expected to provide a theoretical foundation for the stability assessment and vibration analysis in coupled fluid-conveying pipe systems.展开更多
The effects of super absorbent polymers （SAP） on yield as well as water-saving and drought-escaping mechanism in spring maize in the seasonal drought region were studied. As shown by the results, during the seasonal...The effects of super absorbent polymers （SAP） on yield as well as water-saving and drought-escaping mechanism in spring maize in the seasonal drought region were studied. As shown by the results, during the seasonal drought in southern China, SAP treatment promoted the soil moisture, improved the capability of absorption and transportation of roots, promoted physiological and biochemical functions, increased the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO2 concentration, and reduced the stomatal conductance and transplre.tion rate. As a result, the economic characters of spring maize were improved, and the yield was increased.展开更多
To investigate effects of Zn on Cd uptake by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in solution culture, long-time hydroponic experiment (1 month) (Experiment 1) and short-time Cd isotope (109Cd) tracing experiment (24 ...To investigate effects of Zn on Cd uptake by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in solution culture, long-time hydroponic experiment (1 month) (Experiment 1) and short-time Cd isotope (109Cd) tracing experiment (24 h) (Experiment 2) were conducted. In Experiment 1, spring wheat (cv. Brookton) was grown in nutrient solution at uniform cadmium concentration of 20μ mol/L and 10 zinc concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, spring wheat seedlings,pre-cultivated in complete nutrient solution, were treated with 109Cd of uniform activity and the same series of Zn concentrations as those in Experiment 1 for 24 h. Cd concentrations in shoots and roots in Experiment 1 increased marginally but not consistently with Zn increasing at Zn rates of 1～200 μmol/L, and then decreased significantly at high rates (＞200 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, the response of 109Cd activities in shoots and roots to increasing Zn was greatly similar to the response of Cd concentrations to Zn increasing in Experiment 1. The results of the two experiments indicated that the short-time and long-time exposure of spring wheat to Zn had similar effects on Cd accumulation.展开更多
Responses of late spring （21 April 20 May） rainfall to the upper tropospheric cooling over East Asia are investigated with a regional climate model based on Laboratoire de M6t6orologie Dynamique Zoom （LMDZ4-RCM）. ...Responses of late spring （21 April 20 May） rainfall to the upper tropospheric cooling over East Asia are investigated with a regional climate model based on Laboratoire de M6t6orologie Dynamique Zoom （LMDZ4-RCM）. A control experiment is performed with two runs driven by the mean ERA-40 data during 1958-1977 and 1981 2000, respectively. The model reproduces the major decadal-scale circulation changes in late spring over East Asia, including a cooling in the upper troposphere and an anomalous meridional cell. Accordingly, the precipitation decrease is also captured in the southeast of the upper-level cooling region. To quantify the role of the upper-level cooling in the drought mechanism, a sensitivity experiment is further conducted with the cooling imposed in the upper troposphere. It is demonstrated that the upper-level cooling can generate the anomalous meridional cell and consequently the drought to the southeast of the cooling center. Therefore, upper tropospheric cooling should have played a dominant role in the observed late spring drought over Southeast China in recent decades.展开更多
Zooplankton was major indicator species of the environment. To explore the effect of marine environment on zooplankton distribution in the coast of China, the zooplankton samples from stations in Guanhe Estuary(GE), C...Zooplankton was major indicator species of the environment. To explore the effect of marine environment on zooplankton distribution in the coast of China, the zooplankton samples from stations in Guanhe Estuary(GE), Changjiang(Yangtze River) Estuary(CE), Oujiang Estuary(OE), Jiulongjiang Estuary(JE) and Beilun Estuary(BE)(covering 14 latitudes) in spring were surveyed and the variation of zooplankton ecological group was researched. According to the adaptability temperature, the zooplankton was divided into two ecological groups: warm-temperate species and subtropical species. The warm-temperate species was the main dominant species and subtropical species was only dominant species in BE. Calanus sinicus, a warm-temperate species, was the only dominant species in all five estuaries. From north to south, the proportion of warm-temperate species in the five estuaries gradually decreased depends on the number, were 83.33%, 48.39%, 45.00%, 43.75% and 30.43%, respectively. In contrary, the proportion of subtropical species was gradually increased. The warm-temperate species predominated over the total abundance and the percentage was whopping high in the north estuaries, including GE(96.16%), CE(95.57%), OE(97.83%) and JE(95.53%). The abundance percentage of subtropical species have remarkably higher(82.39%) in BE. Five estuaries zooplankton community was subdivided into three zooplankton groups, which were the northern warm temperate zooplankton group, the southern subtropical zooplankton group and the estuarine brackish-water group. The water temperature and coastal current of China Sea are recognized as the main factors determining the distribution and community structure of estuarine zooplankton in spring.展开更多
In semiarid areas, cereal crops often alocate more biomass to root at the expense of aboveground yield. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate carbon consumption of roots and its impact on grain yield of spring...In semiarid areas, cereal crops often alocate more biomass to root at the expense of aboveground yield. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate carbon consumption of roots and its impact on grain yield of spring wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） as affected by water and phosphorus （P） supply. A factorial design was used with six treatments namely two water regimes （at 80–75% and 50–45% ifeld capacity （FC）） and three P supply rates （P1=0, P2=44 and P3=109 μg P g–1 soil）. At shooting and lfowering stages, root respiration and carbon consumption increased with the elevate of P supply rates, regardless of water conditions, which achieved the minimum and maximum at P1 under 50–45% FC and P3 under 80–75% FC, respectively. However, total aboveground biomass and grain yield were higher at P2 under 80–75% FC; and decreased with high P application （P3）. The results indicated that rational or low P supply （80–75% of ifeld water capacity and 44 mg P kg–1 soil） should be recommended to improve grain yield by decreasing root carbon consumption in semiarid areas.展开更多
By ANSYS, dynamic simulation analysis of rubber spring supporting equipment used in vibrating screen was made. The modal frequency, mode, and harmonic displacement under working frequency were obtained. Variation of r...By ANSYS, dynamic simulation analysis of rubber spring supporting equipment used in vibrating screen was made. The modal frequency, mode, and harmonic displacement under working frequency were obtained. Variation of rubber spring supporting equipment＇s dynamic performance was discussed first, which is under the condition of existing spring stiffness difference and exciting force bias. Also, the quantitative calculation formulas were given. The results indicate that the performance of vibrating screen is closely related with rubber spring supporting equipment＇s dynamic performance. Differences of springs＇ stiffness coefficients reduce the modal frequency reduced, decrease the dynamic stiffness, and increase vibration displacement. Exciting force bias induces a larger lateral displacement. When rubber springs＇ stiffness coefficients exist, differences and lateral force accounts for 5% in total exciting force; rubber spring supporting equipment＇s side swing is larger than 1 mm, exceeding the side swing limit.展开更多
Based on their genesis, springs are commonly classified as depression spring, contact spring, overflow spring and fault spring, etc. In addition, a kind of springs, i.e., up-flow spring, can be found in the field. An ...Based on their genesis, springs are commonly classified as depression spring, contact spring, overflow spring and fault spring, etc. In addition, a kind of springs, i.e., up-flow spring, can be found in the field. An aquifer is overlain by poorly-permeable unconsolidated sediments or relatively impervious formations. If the hydraulic head of the aquifer is higher than the land surface, groundwater may flow up to the ground surface through the local portion of the overlying aquicludes where the permeability is relatively good, and emerges as an up-flow spring. The common characteristics of an up-flow spring are discussed and summarized in this paper, and some examples of the up-flow springs are also given. Up-flow springs can flow up through local permeable zones in the overlying aquicludes rather than permeable faults. Although they cannot be found as frequently as depression springs, contact springs, overflow springs and fault springs etc., yet up-flow springs may occur in the form of normal-temperature springs, hot springs and salt springs.展开更多
Assessing the impacts of climate variability on agricultural productivity at regional, national or global scale is essential for defining adaptation and mitigation strategies. We explore in this study the potential ch...Assessing the impacts of climate variability on agricultural productivity at regional, national or global scale is essential for defining adaptation and mitigation strategies. We explore in this study the potential changes in spring wheat yields at Swift Current and Melfort, Canada, for different sowing windows under projected climate scenarios (i.e., the representative concentration pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). First, the APSIM model was calibrated and evaluated at the study sites using data from long term experimental field plots. Then, the impacts of change in sowing dates on final yield were assessed over the 2030-2099 period with a 1990-2009 baseline period of observed yield data, assuming that other crop management practices remained unchanged. Results showed that the performance of APSIM was quite satisfactory with an index of agreement of 0.80, R2 of 0.54, and mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of 529 kg/ha and 1023 kg/ha, respectively (MAE = 476 kg/ha and RMSE = 684 kg/ha in calibration phase). Under the projected climate conditions, a general trend in yield loss was observed regardless of the sowing window, with a range from ?-24% to -94% depending on the site and the RCP, and noticeable losses during the 2060s and beyond (increasing CO2 effects being excluded). Smallest yield losses obtained through earlier possible sowing date (i.e., mid-April) under the projected future climate suggested that this option might be explored for mitigating possible adverse impacts of climate variability. Our findings could therefore serve as a basis for using APSIM as a decision support tool for adaptation/mitigation options under potential climate variability within Western Canada.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42201374,42071359)。
文摘The roles of diurnal temperature in providing heat accumulation and chilling requirements for vegetation spring phenology differ.Although previous studies have established a stronger correlation between leaf onset and diurnal temperature than between leaf onset and average temperature,current research on modeling spring phenology based on diurnal temperature indicators remains limited.In this study,we confirmed the start of the growing season(SOS)sensitivity to diurnal temperature and average temperature in boreal forest.The estimation of SOS was carried out by employing K-Nearest Neighbor Regression(KNR-TDN)model,Random Forest Regres-sion(RFR-TDN)model,eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGB-TDN)model and Light Gradient Boosting Machine model(LightGBM-TDN)driven by diurnal temperature indicators during 1982-2015,and the SOS was projected from 2015 to 2100 based on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6(CMIP6)climate scenario datasets.The sensitivity of boreal forest SOS to daytime temperature is greater than that to average temperature and nighttime temperature.The LightGBM-TDN model perform best across all vegetation types,exhibiting the lowest RMSE and bias compared to the KNR-TDN model,RFR-TDN model and XGB-TDN model.By incorporating diurn-al temperature indicators instead of relying only on average temperature indicators to simulate spring phenology,an improvement in the accuracy of the model is achieved.Furthermore,the preseason accumulated daytime temperature,daytime temperature and snow cover end date emerged as significant drivers of the SOS simulation in the study area.The simulation results based on LightGBM-TDN model exhibit a trend of advancing SOS followed by stabilization under future climate scenarios.This study underscores the potential of diurn-al temperature indicators as a viable alternative to average temperature indicators in driving spring phenology models,offering a prom-ising new method for simulating spring phenology.
文摘Spring returns with every thing growing.As the f irst high-level forum held after the Two Sessions,the China Development Forum(hereinaf ter refer red to as the Forum)brought together Chinese and foreign political and business people and became a weathervane for observing China’s economy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12325201,12272140,and 12322201)。
文摘This study investigates the dynamical behavior of two parallel fluid-conveying pipes by developing a non-planar dynamical model of the two pipes coupled with an intermediate spring. A systematic analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of spring parameters on the non-planar vibration characteristics and buckling behaviors of the coupled system. The nonlinear governing equations are derived with Hamilton's principle,subsequently discretized through Galerkin's method, and finally numerically solved by the Runge-Kutta algorithm. Based on the linearized equations, an eigenvalue analysis is performed to obtain the coupled frequencies, modal shapes, and critical flow velocities for buckling instability. Quantitative assessments further elucidate the effects of the spring position and stiffness coefficient on the coupled frequencies and critical flow velocities.Nonlinear dynamic analyses reveal the evolution of buckling patterns and bifurcation behaviors between the lateral displacements of the two pipes and the flow velocity. Numerical results indicate that the intermediate spring increases the susceptibility to buckling instability in the out-of-plane direction compared with the in-plane direction. Furthermore, synchronized lateral displacements emerge in both pipes when the flow velocity of one pipe exceeds the critical threshold. This work is expected to provide a theoretical foundation for the stability assessment and vibration analysis in coupled fluid-conveying pipe systems.
基金Supported by Key Projects in the National Science&TechnologyPillar Program(2006BAD04B07-2)Sic-tech Innovation Projectof Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences(2009hnnkycx30)~~
文摘The effects of super absorbent polymers （SAP） on yield as well as water-saving and drought-escaping mechanism in spring maize in the seasonal drought region were studied. As shown by the results, during the seasonal drought in southern China, SAP treatment promoted the soil moisture, improved the capability of absorption and transportation of roots, promoted physiological and biochemical functions, increased the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO2 concentration, and reduced the stomatal conductance and transplre.tion rate. As a result, the economic characters of spring maize were improved, and the yield was increased.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40335046) and the "Recruiting Outstanding Overseas Chinese Scientists" Scheme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
文摘To investigate effects of Zn on Cd uptake by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in solution culture, long-time hydroponic experiment (1 month) (Experiment 1) and short-time Cd isotope (109Cd) tracing experiment (24 h) (Experiment 2) were conducted. In Experiment 1, spring wheat (cv. Brookton) was grown in nutrient solution at uniform cadmium concentration of 20μ mol/L and 10 zinc concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, spring wheat seedlings,pre-cultivated in complete nutrient solution, were treated with 109Cd of uniform activity and the same series of Zn concentrations as those in Experiment 1 for 24 h. Cd concentrations in shoots and roots in Experiment 1 increased marginally but not consistently with Zn increasing at Zn rates of 1～200 μmol/L, and then decreased significantly at high rates (＞200 μ mol/L). In Experiment 2, the response of 109Cd activities in shoots and roots to increasing Zn was greatly similar to the response of Cd concentrations to Zn increasing in Experiment 1. The results of the two experiments indicated that the short-time and long-time exposure of spring wheat to Zn had similar effects on Cd accumulation.
文摘Responses of late spring （21 April 20 May） rainfall to the upper tropospheric cooling over East Asia are investigated with a regional climate model based on Laboratoire de M6t6orologie Dynamique Zoom （LMDZ4-RCM）. A control experiment is performed with two runs driven by the mean ERA-40 data during 1958-1977 and 1981 2000, respectively. The model reproduces the major decadal-scale circulation changes in late spring over East Asia, including a cooling in the upper troposphere and an anomalous meridional cell. Accordingly, the precipitation decrease is also captured in the southeast of the upper-level cooling region. To quantify the role of the upper-level cooling in the drought mechanism, a sensitivity experiment is further conducted with the cooling imposed in the upper troposphere. It is demonstrated that the upper-level cooling can generate the anomalous meridional cell and consequently the drought to the southeast of the cooling center. Therefore, upper tropospheric cooling should have played a dominant role in the observed late spring drought over Southeast China in recent decades.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. G41176131)the National Marine Public Welfare Research Project of China (No. 201305027-8)the Young Ocean Science Fund of East China Sea branch of State Oceanic Administration (No. 201708)
文摘Zooplankton was major indicator species of the environment. To explore the effect of marine environment on zooplankton distribution in the coast of China, the zooplankton samples from stations in Guanhe Estuary(GE), Changjiang(Yangtze River) Estuary(CE), Oujiang Estuary(OE), Jiulongjiang Estuary(JE) and Beilun Estuary(BE)(covering 14 latitudes) in spring were surveyed and the variation of zooplankton ecological group was researched. According to the adaptability temperature, the zooplankton was divided into two ecological groups: warm-temperate species and subtropical species. The warm-temperate species was the main dominant species and subtropical species was only dominant species in BE. Calanus sinicus, a warm-temperate species, was the only dominant species in all five estuaries. From north to south, the proportion of warm-temperate species in the five estuaries gradually decreased depends on the number, were 83.33%, 48.39%, 45.00%, 43.75% and 30.43%, respectively. In contrary, the proportion of subtropical species was gradually increased. The warm-temperate species predominated over the total abundance and the percentage was whopping high in the north estuaries, including GE(96.16%), CE(95.57%), OE(97.83%) and JE(95.53%). The abundance percentage of subtropical species have remarkably higher(82.39%) in BE. Five estuaries zooplankton community was subdivided into three zooplankton groups, which were the northern warm temperate zooplankton group, the southern subtropical zooplankton group and the estuarine brackish-water group. The water temperature and coastal current of China Sea are recognized as the main factors determining the distribution and community structure of estuarine zooplankton in spring.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (31300328, 31200335, 31470496)the "111" Program from State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) & Ministry of Education (MOE), China (2007B051)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (lzujbky-2012-97, lzujbky-2015-ct02, lzujbky-2016-86)the funding from the State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem in Lanzhou University, China
文摘In semiarid areas, cereal crops often alocate more biomass to root at the expense of aboveground yield. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate carbon consumption of roots and its impact on grain yield of spring wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） as affected by water and phosphorus （P） supply. A factorial design was used with six treatments namely two water regimes （at 80–75% and 50–45% ifeld capacity （FC）） and three P supply rates （P1=0, P2=44 and P3=109 μg P g–1 soil）. At shooting and lfowering stages, root respiration and carbon consumption increased with the elevate of P supply rates, regardless of water conditions, which achieved the minimum and maximum at P1 under 50–45% FC and P3 under 80–75% FC, respectively. However, total aboveground biomass and grain yield were higher at P2 under 80–75% FC; and decreased with high P application （P3）. The results indicated that rational or low P supply （80–75% of ifeld water capacity and 44 mg P kg–1 soil） should be recommended to improve grain yield by decreasing root carbon consumption in semiarid areas.
文摘By ANSYS, dynamic simulation analysis of rubber spring supporting equipment used in vibrating screen was made. The modal frequency, mode, and harmonic displacement under working frequency were obtained. Variation of rubber spring supporting equipment＇s dynamic performance was discussed first, which is under the condition of existing spring stiffness difference and exciting force bias. Also, the quantitative calculation formulas were given. The results indicate that the performance of vibrating screen is closely related with rubber spring supporting equipment＇s dynamic performance. Differences of springs＇ stiffness coefficients reduce the modal frequency reduced, decrease the dynamic stiffness, and increase vibration displacement. Exciting force bias induces a larger lateral displacement. When rubber springs＇ stiffness coefficients exist, differences and lateral force accounts for 5% in total exciting force; rubber spring supporting equipment＇s side swing is larger than 1 mm, exceeding the side swing limit.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(41572223,41172227)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing(8152026)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2652015244,2652015245,2652015426)the National Key Project of Foundational Research and Development of China(973 Project)(2011CB403005)
文摘Based on their genesis, springs are commonly classified as depression spring, contact spring, overflow spring and fault spring, etc. In addition, a kind of springs, i.e., up-flow spring, can be found in the field. An aquifer is overlain by poorly-permeable unconsolidated sediments or relatively impervious formations. If the hydraulic head of the aquifer is higher than the land surface, groundwater may flow up to the ground surface through the local portion of the overlying aquicludes where the permeability is relatively good, and emerges as an up-flow spring. The common characteristics of an up-flow spring are discussed and summarized in this paper, and some examples of the up-flow springs are also given. Up-flow springs can flow up through local permeable zones in the overlying aquicludes rather than permeable faults. Although they cannot be found as frequently as depression springs, contact springs, overflow springs and fault springs etc., yet up-flow springs may occur in the form of normal-temperature springs, hot springs and salt springs.
文摘Assessing the impacts of climate variability on agricultural productivity at regional, national or global scale is essential for defining adaptation and mitigation strategies. We explore in this study the potential changes in spring wheat yields at Swift Current and Melfort, Canada, for different sowing windows under projected climate scenarios (i.e., the representative concentration pathways, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). First, the APSIM model was calibrated and evaluated at the study sites using data from long term experimental field plots. Then, the impacts of change in sowing dates on final yield were assessed over the 2030-2099 period with a 1990-2009 baseline period of observed yield data, assuming that other crop management practices remained unchanged. Results showed that the performance of APSIM was quite satisfactory with an index of agreement of 0.80, R2 of 0.54, and mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of 529 kg/ha and 1023 kg/ha, respectively (MAE = 476 kg/ha and RMSE = 684 kg/ha in calibration phase). Under the projected climate conditions, a general trend in yield loss was observed regardless of the sowing window, with a range from ?-24% to -94% depending on the site and the RCP, and noticeable losses during the 2060s and beyond (increasing CO2 effects being excluded). Smallest yield losses obtained through earlier possible sowing date (i.e., mid-April) under the projected future climate suggested that this option might be explored for mitigating possible adverse impacts of climate variability. Our findings could therefore serve as a basis for using APSIM as a decision support tool for adaptation/mitigation options under potential climate variability within Western Canada.
