Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling

Prof. Dr. Dr. Kurt Christian Kersebaum

Research interests:

I am an agronomist and geo-ecologist with a special focus on agro-ecosystem modelling. I´m interested in the interactions of processes in the atmosphere-crop-soil system to simulate impacts of management and ecological boundary conditions on crop production and the environment. I work since 29 years in research projects in Europe, Asia and Africa. My expertise combines soil science, crop science, agro-meteorology, water protection and climate change impact analysis. My aim is to address different aspects of agricultural production and to bridge conflicts in agricultural land use.

Research foci and activities:

  • Modelling of water and matter dynamics and crop growth in the soil-plant-atmosphere system on different scales (sub field, field, catchments, region).
  • Model based evaluation of land use and management strategies to protect water resources from nutrient pollution.
  • Model based assessment of Climate Change impact on crop growth and soil processes and development of adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability for food security.
  • Linking field research and modelling.



Teaching (still open):

  • Fundamentals of process-oriented modelling (Lecture and exercises)
  • Modelling process interactions in agroecosystems (Lecture and exercises)



Key publications:

Bregaglio, S., Willocquet, L., Kersebaum, K.C., Ferrise, R., Stella, T., Ferreira, T.B., Pavan, W., Asseng, S., Savary, S. (2021): Comparing process-based wheat growth models in their simulation of damage mechanisms caused by plant diseases. Field Crops Res. 265, 108108. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108108

Trnka, M., Feng, S., Semenov, M.A., Olesen, J.E., Kersebaum, K.C., Rötter, R.P., Semerádová, D., Klem, K., Huang, W., Ruiz-Ramos, M., Hlavinka, P., Meitner, J., Balek, J., Havlik, P., Büntgen, U. (2019): Mitigation efforts will not fully alleviate the increase in the water scarcity occurrence probability in wheat-producing areas. Science Advances 5, eaau2406. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau2406

Kahiluoto, H., Kaseva , J., Balek, J., Olesen, J.E., Ruiz-Ramos , M., Gobin, A., Kersebaum, K.C., Takáč, J., Ruget, F., Ferrise, R., Bezak , P., Capellades, G., Dibari, C., Mäkinen, H., Nendel, C., Ventrella, D., Rodríguez, A., Bindi, M., Trnka, M. 2019. Decline in climate resilience of European wheat. PNAS 116 (1), 123-128. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804387115

Wallor, E., Kersebaum, K.C., Ventrella, D., Bindi, M., Cammarano, D., Coucheney, E., Gaiser, T. Garofalo, P., Giglio, L., Giola, P., Hoffmann, M.P., Iocola, I., Lana, M., Lewan, E., Maharjan, G.R., Moriondo, M., Mula, L., Nendel, C., Pohankova, E., Roggero, P.P., Trnka, M., Trombi, G., (2018): The response of process-based agro-ecosystem models to within-field variability in site conditions. Field Crops Res. 228, 1-19. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2018.08.021

Kersebaum, K.C., Boote, K.J., Jorgenson, J.S., Nendel, C., Bindi, M., Frühauf, C., Gaiser, T., Hoogenboom, G., Kollas, C., Olesen, J.E., Rötter, R.P., Ruget, F., Thorburn, P.J., Trnka, M., Wegehenkel, M. (2015): Analysis and classification of data sets for calibration and validation of agro-ecosystem models. Env. Model. Software 72, 402-417. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.05.009

Trnka, M., Rötter, R.P., Ruiz-Ramos, M., Kersebaum, K.C., Olesen, J.E., Žalud, Z., Semenov, M.A. (2014): Adverse weather conditions for European wheat production will become more frequent with climate change. Nature Climate Change 4 (7), 637–643. DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2242

Kersebaum, K.C., Nendel, C. (2014): Site-specific impacts of climate change on wheat production across regions of Germany using different CO2 response functions. Eur. J. Agronomy 52: 22-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2013.04.005
Van Wart, J., Kersebaum, K.C., Peng, S., Milner, M., Cassman, K. (2013): Estimating crop yield potential at regional to national scales. Field Crops Res. 143: 34-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.11.018

Van Wart, J., Kersebaum, K.C., Peng, S., Milner, M., Cassman, K. (2013): Estimating crop yield potential at regional to national scales. Field Crops Res. 143: 34-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2012.11.018

Palosuo, T., Kersebaum, K.C., Angulo, C., Hlavinka, P., Moriondo, M., Olesen, J., Patil, R., Ruget, F., Rumbaur, C., Takac, J., Trnka, M., Bindi, M., Caldag, B., Ewert, F., Ferrise, R., Mirschel, W., Saylan, L., Siska, B., Rötter, R. (2011): Simulation of winter wheat yield and its variability in different climates of Europe: A comparison of eight crop growth models. Eur. J. Agronomy 35 (3): 103-114. DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2011.05.001

Kersebaum, K.C., Hecker, J.-M., Mirschel, W., Wegehenkel, M. (Eds.) (2007): Modelling water and nutrient dynamics in soil–crop systems. Springer, Dordrecht, 272 pp.. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-4479-3