**35^TH^ Biological Systems Simulation Conference**

April 19-21, 2005 Phoenix, ARziona

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**Hosted by:**

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**The U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory is part of the USDA ARS and has
served the agriculture community since 1958. www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov**

## Join the BSSG Conference in Phoenix!

Systems approaches encounter diverse applications in agricultural and
natural resource research. Simulation modeling is applied in basic
studies of plant physiology and functional genomics, yet models are also
powerful tools for such applied uses as timing irrigations and
applications of nutrients or pest control measures. The Biological
Systems Simulation Group conference provides a forum for researchers
from a broad range of disciplines to interchange ideas and experiences
with the ultimate goal of improving the efficiency and productivity of
agricultural production, while conserving or even enhancing soil and
water resources.

## Proposed Sessions 

-   Plant-level biological processes

-   Gene-based modeling and genomics

-   Soil water, nutrient and energy balances

-   Linking crop models to remotely-sensed data

-   Assessing impacts of pests, weeds and diseases on crop performance

-   Modeling effects of climatic variability and global change

-   Decision Support Systems and crop management

-   Data management and software engineering

Sessions run from 8:00 to 5:00 with catered breaks and a luncheon each
day.

## History of the BSSG

The Biological Systems Simulation Group is in its 35th year and brings
together an international group of scientists interested in using
integrated systems approaches to study agricultural and natural systems.
Topics range from basic physiological and biological systems to
ecosystem simulations of field-level flows of water, carbon, energy, and
nutrients to region-level analyses of the impacts of climate variability
and global change. This includes a strong focus on the study and dynamic
simulation of effects of climatic and biotic factors on crop
performance.

## Key Dates and Information

  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
  February 28         Summaries due

  **March 12**        **Early registration ends**

  **April 19**        **On-site registration**

  **April 19-21**     **Conference**

  **April 22**        **Post-conference \"hands-on\" workshop for
                      modeling sorghum FACE experiments**
  ------------------- ---------------------------------------------------

##### Location

-   Phoenix, Arizona, USA

-   Sheraton Phoenix Airport
    [Hotel](http://www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov/EPD/CO2/BSSGConference/Hotel.html)

##### Registration

-   By March 12, 2005

    -   US\$ 225 (full registration)

    -   US\$ 125 (students)

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-   After March 12, 2005

    -   US\$ 275 (full registration)

    -   US\$ 175 (students)

##### Highlights

-   Oral presentations

-   Poster displays

-   Software demonstrations

-   Published proceedings

-   Field trip to The University of Arizona\'s Maricopa Agricultural
    Center, site of the new U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Center with
    special luncheon (half day)

-   Post-conference \"hands-on\" workshop to model sorghum response to
    elevated CO~2~ using FACE data sets

##### Conference Organizers

-   Jeffrey W. White\
    US Water Conservation Laboratory\
    Phoenix, Arizona

-   Bruce A. Kimball\
    US Water Conservation Laboratory\
    Phoenix, Arizona

-   Kenneth J. Boote\
    University of Florida\
    Gainesville, Florida

## Agenda

##### Monday, April 18:

-   PM: On-site registration

-   PM: Reception

##### Tuesday, April 19

-   AM: Oral presentations

-   PM: Oral presentations

-   PM: Poster and software demonstrations

##### Wednesday, April 20

-   AM: Oral presentations

-   PM: Oral presentations

-   PM: Poster and software demonstrations

##### Thursday, April 21

-   AM: Field trip to The Univ. of Arizona\'s Maricopa Agricultural
    Center (MAC), site of the new U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Center

-   Noon: Barbecue luncheon at MAC

-   PM: Oral presentations

-   PM: Closure

##### Friday, April 22

Post-conference \"hands-on\" workshop to model sorghum response to
elevated CO~2~ using FACE data sets

-   AM: Transfer to USWCL

-   AM: Introduction to the sorghum FACE experiment and data sets

-   AM: Hands-on sessions

-   PM: Continue hands-on session

-   PM: Closing remarks

##  How To Register

PLEASE FAX, or E-mail the following information to the conference
secretary:

Your Name: (as to appear on badge)\
Title:\
Affiliation(s):\
Address:\
City (Place):\
State/Province:\
Postal Code:\
Country:\
Telephone:\
FAX:\
E-mail:\
Registration type(circle one): regular or student My presentation will
be (circle one): oral  poster   software demo\
Will attend the 22 April sorghum workshop(circle one): yes/no

Please make checks payable to \"BSSG USWCL\" and send them to:

Ms. Lou Draper

PHONE: 1-602-437-1702 ext. 236\
FAX: 1-602-437-5291\
E-mail: ldraper@uswcl.ars.ag.gov\
USWCL, BSSG Conference\
4331 E. Broadway Rd.\
Phoenix, AZ 85040\
USA

#### Refund policy: Requests for registration refunds will be honored if written notice of cancellation is received by the USWCL on or before March 12, 2005. A \$40.00 processing fee will be deducted from all refunds. No refunds will be honored for cancellations after March 12, 2005.

#### Special needs: Participants with special needs can be reasonably accommodated. Please contact the conference secretary, Lou Draper, at least 10 days prior to the conference.

##  Hotel Accomodations

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.3097222222222222in"
height="1.5506944444444444in"}

The conference will be held at the [Sheraton Phoenix Airport
Hotel](http://www.starwood.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=954),
which is centrally located near the Phoenix Skyharbor Airport, Arizona
State University and diverse dining and shopping venues, including
Tempe\'s popular Mill Avenue entertainment district and Tempe Town Lake
(see map below). The hotel offers shuttle service to the airport and
other nearby locations.

Participants must make their own room reservations by contacting the
Sheraton directly:

Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel\
1600 South 52nd Street\
Tempe, AZ 85281\
UNITED STATES\
Toll-Free: 1-800-346-3049\
Tel: 1-480-966-6600\
Fax: 1-480-966-2392\
E-Mail: sheratonphxap@az.rmci.net

The room rate is US \$120/night + tax.

**Please reference the Biological Systems Simulation Conference when
making your reservation.**

##  Travel To Phoenix

Map showing location of the Sheraton in relation to the airport and
local attractions

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##### Airline Connections

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is only five minutes from the
BSSG conference hotel. The airport is served by over 21 airlines that
offer nonstop services from Phoenix to 109 cities in the US and around
the world. Phoenix is a hub for America West Airlines and Southwest
Airlines. Non-stop international services are provided by Aeromexico,
British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Air Jamaica and America West
Airlines.

##### Railroad

There is no direct rail service to Phoenix, but Amtrak\'s Texas Eagle
stops in Maricopa, approximately 25 miles south of Phoenix. A shuttle
can be hired for transportation to Phoenix. The Texas Eagle route runs
from Los Angeles to Chicago. For more information, see the Amtrak [web
site](http://www.texaseagle.com/stations/MRC.htm).

##### Automobile

The BSSG conference hotel is located approximately 1/2 mi. from
Interstate 10.

-   **West-bound:** Take Exit 153B to Broadway Rd. Go straight through
    the first stop light. The hotel is the first entrance on the left on
    52nd St.

-   **East-bound:** Take Exit 153 to Broadway Rd. Turn left on Broadway,
    cross the freeway, and turn left at the first light (52nd St.). The
    hotel is the first entrance on the left on 52nd St.

Traffic on the freeways is very heavy from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00
PM to 6:00 PM, so allow extra driving time during those periods.

##  Summaries

**Summaries must be received no later than Feb. 28, 2005**

##### How to prepare your summary

Summaries will be distributed in printed form at the symposium, and a
digital version will be available for downloading. Individual summaries
should contain:

-   Title

-   Authors names

-   Authors\' affiliations

-   The text per se

-   Figures or tables: optional, color is OK, should be embedded in main
    text

-   Key-words: up to five to help organize the agenda

-   References: optional, please use ASA, CSSA format

The entire summary must fit within two pages of 12 point Times New Roman
font, using single spaces lines and formatted for 8.5\" x 11\" paper
with 1\" margins.

Please follow the format of the sample summary provided below. The
organizers will undertake minor editing, but summaries that deviate
seriously from the format will be returned to the submitting author.

##### How to submit your summary

-   Prepare the summary following the guidelines.

-   No later than Feb. 28, 2005, E-mail the summary as a MS Word or RTF
    file to the conference secretary, [Ms. Lou
    Draper](mailto:ldraper@uswcl.ars.ag.gov)

-   Check for confirmation that the summary was received and is OK for
    publication

##### Sample summary

##### Title of Paper Goes Here

Your Name^1,\*^, Coauthor Name^2^ and another Coauthor^3^

^1^ My Institute, Big City, etc. (\*corresponding author, E-mail: ... @
...)

^2^ \[Second author's institution if different from first author.\]

^3^ \[Third author's institution if different from first two.\]

Process-based models of crop growth ... \[main text goes here\]

## Post-BSSG Workshop with Sorghum FACE Data

From 1989 to 1999, the USWCL conducted free air CO~2~ enrichment (FACE)
trials using cotton, wheat and sorghum. Continuing the tradition of
providing FACE data for model development and testing, the USWCL invites
interested parties to remain in Phoenix after the BSSG for an informal
\"hands-on\" one-day modeling workshop, emphasizing the sorghum data
sets.

Data that are available include management, weather, soil and crop
growth data. Data will be provided in ICASA format prior to the
conference, so that people can come to the workshop with specific
questions or suggestions. Wheat and cotton FACE data sets are also
available.

We provide below sample references for publications that have resulted
from FACE trials conducted in Arizona. For further information on the
sorghum FACE experiments or other FACE trials conducted in Arizona,
please contact [Bruce Kimball](mailto:bkimball@uswcl.ars.ag.gov) or
![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.125in" height="1.75in"}visit the USWCL
[FACE web site](http://www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov/EPD/co2/co2face.htm).

##### Agenda (draft)

-   8:00 AM: Transfer to USWCL in vans

-   8:20 AM: Introduction to sorghum FACE data sets - Bruce Kimball

-   8:40 AM: Distribution of data sets for hands-on modeling

-   10:00 AM: Coffee break

-   12:00 PM: Lunch

-   1:00 PM: Hands-on modeling continues

-   3:00 PM: Coffee break

-   3:20 PM: Reports and closing discussion

-   4:00 PM: Return to Sheraton in vans

##### Sample References on FACE Trials Conducted at MAC

-   Ewert, F., D. Rodriguez, P. Jamieson, M.A. Semenov, R.A.C.
    Mitchell, J. Goudriaan, J.R. Porter, B.A. Kimball, P.J. Pinter
    Jr., R. Manderscheid, H.J. Weigel, A. Fangmeier, E. Fereres, and F.
    Villalobos. 2002. Effects of elevated CO2 and drought on wheat:
    testing crop simulation models for different experimental and
    climatic conditions. Agriculture Ecosystems & the Environment
    93:249-266.

-   Grant, R.F., R.L. Garcia, P.J. Pinter Jr., D.J. Hunsaker, G.W. Wall,
    B.A. Kimball, and R.L. LaMorte. 95. Interaction between atmospheric
    CO~2~ concentration and water deficit on gas exchange and crop
    growth: testing of ecosys with data from the free air CO~2~
    enrichment (FACE) experiment. Global Change Biology 1:443-454.

-   Grant, R.F., B.A. Kimball, T.J. Brooks, G.W. Wall, P.J. Pinter Jr.,
    D.J. Hunsaker, F.J. Adamsen, R.L. LaMorte, S.W. Leavitt, T.L.
    Thompson, and A.D. Matthias. 2001. Modeling interactions among
    carbon dioxide~,~ nitrogen, and climate on energy exchange of wheat
    in a free air carbon dioxide experiment. Agronomy Journal
    93(3):638-649.

-   Grant, R.F., B.A. Kimball, P.J. Pinter Jr., G.W. Wall, R.L. Garcia,
    R.L. LaMorte, and D.J. Hunsaker. 95. CO~2~ effects on crop energy
    balance: Testing ecosys with a free-air CO~2~ enrichment (FACE)
    experiment. Agronomy Journal 87:446-457.

-   Grant, R.F., G.W. Wall, B.A. Kimball, K.F.A. Frumau, P.J. Pinter
    Jr., D.J. Hunsaker, and R.L. LaMorte. 99. Crop water relations under
    different CO~2~ and irrigation: Testing of ecosys with the free air
    CO~2~ enrichment (FACE) experiment. Agricultural and Forest
    Meteorology 95: 27-51.

-   Grant, R.F., B.A. Kimball, G.W. Wall, J.M. Triggs, T.J. Brooks, P.J.
    Pinter, M.M. Conley, M.J. Ottman, R.L. Lamorte, S.W. Leavitt, T.J.
    Thompson, and A.D. Matthias. Climate change effects on water
    requirements of irrigated sorghum: projections from a model tested
    with a free air co2 enrichment (FACE) experiment. Agronomy Journal.

-   Grossman-Clarke, S., P.J. Pinter Jr., T. Kartschall, B.A. Kimball,
    D.J. Hunsaker, G.W. Wall, R.L. Garcia, and R.L. LaMorte. 2001.
    Modeling a spring wheat crop under elevated carbon dioxide and
    drought. New Phytologist 150(2):315-335.

-   Grossman, S., T. Kartschall, B.A. Kimball, D.J. Hunsaker, R.L.
    LaMorte, R.L. Garcia, G.W. Wall, and P.J. Pinter Jr. 95. Simulated
    responses of energy and water fluxes to ambient atmosphere and
    free-air carbon dioxide enrichment in wheat. Journal of Biogeography
    22:601-610.

-   Porter, J.R., P.K. Aggarwal, S. Asseng, F. Ewert, L.A. Hunt, P.D.
    Jamieson, B.A. Kimball, P.J. Pinter Jr., J.T. Ritchie Jr., MA.
    Semenov, and M.I. Travasso. Modeling CO2 Effects on Wheat with
    Varying Nitrogen Supplies in the Maricopa FACE Experiment. Global
    Change Newsletter.

-   Tubiello, F.N., C. Rosenzweig, B.A. Kimball, P.J. Pinter Jr., G.W.
    Wall, D.J. Hunsaker, R.L. LaMorte, and R.L.

-   Garcia. 99. Testing *CERES-*Wheat with Free Air Carbon-Dioxide
    Enrichment data: CO~2~ and water interactions. Agronomy Journal
    91(2):247-255.

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height="0.7395833333333334in"}

U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory

4331 East Broadway Road

Phoenix, AZ 85040