Modeling crop spatial patterns and their phenological calendars using geographical factors — A case study in Northwest China

Crop growth has strong regional and phenological properties. This study was aiming to test the capability of modeling crops spatial pattern and their phenological calendars based on geographical factors. Study area was located in a mountainous middle to north-western transition zone of China. Agrometeorological data was critical research material which provided local actual cropping system and their phenologies records. We focused on the temperature response of crop regional patterns and their phenological phases; multiple regression models were established based on agrometeorological records against geographical factors (latitude, longitude, and altitude). Geographical information system (GIS) was employed to execute the regression models to simulate a raster surface. Result showed that goodness-of-fit of prediction are satisfactory except for minor circumstances, which demonstrates that the feasibility and deficiency when using regression model-based statistical methodology. Further study should be focus on crop growth simulation model and remote sensing to advance the research in crop phenology.