Climatological evaluation of agricultural productivity using chikugo model: Case study of inner mongolia in china

Chikugo model, which was originally the climatological model to estimate Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of natural vegetation including underground organs, was applied to estimate agricultural productivity in Inner Mongolia in China. The results show that the natural grass productivity and the agricultural crop (cereals, pulse crops and potato) productivity under poor irrigation activities are linearly correlated with NPP. Agricultural crop productivity under various irrigation ratios (irrigated area divided by cropping area) are not directly related with NPP. However, the rates of agricultural crop productivity to NPP are linearly correlated with irrigation ratios. Therefore, Chikugo model can be applicable to evaluate the potential productivity of both natural grassland and farmland, and offer an index of the proper agricultural development.