1. General Model Information

Name: Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator

Acronym: EPIC

Main medium: terrestrial
Main subject: biogeochemistry, hydrology
Organization level: landscape
Type of model: not specified
Main application: research
Keywords: non-point source pollution, soil erosion, crop production, management, hydrology, soil temperature, event based, process based

Contact:

Dr. Jimmy R. Williams , Jay Atwood
USDA ARS,
Blackland Research Center
808 E. Blackland Road,
Temple TX 76502.

Phone: (254) 770-6508
Fax: (254) 770-6561
email: williams@brc.tamus.edu
jatwood@brc.tamus.edu
Homepage: http://www.brc.tamus.edu/blackland/staff/williams/index.htm

Author(s):

Williams, J.R., P.T. Dyke and C.A. Jones.

Abstract:

  • EPIC (Erosion-Productivity Impact Calculator) is a mechanistic simulation model used to examine long-term effects of various components of soil erosion on crop production (Williams et al., 1983). EPIC is a public domain model that has been used to examine the effects of soil erosion on crop production in over 60 different countries in Asia, South America and Europe.

    The model has several components:

    The model requires input from GRASS GIS layers. These include soil series and weather data, although the model can generate the necessary weather parameters. The model also requires management information that can be input from a text file. Currently, there are many management files that exist for EPIC and an effort is underway to catalogue these files and provide them to users. The model provides output on crop yields, economics of fertilizer use and crop values.

    Author of the abstract:

    CIESIN

    II. Technical Information

    II.1 Executables:

    Operating System(s):
    Download help
    Downloads (DOS, UNIX(Solaris))
    Europe: DOS ver 5125
    SUN/Unix ver 5125

    II.2 Source-code:

    Programming Language(s): Fortran ver 5125 Europe: Fortran ver 5125

    II.3 Manuals:



    II.4 Data:


    III. Mathematical Information


    III.1 Mathematics

    Documentation by Georgie Mitchell, Ray H. Griggs, Verel Benson, Jimmy Williams, Steve Dagitz (USDA-ARS Temple/TX)
    May 26, 1997
    DOCUMENTATION


    III.2 Quantities


    III.2.1 Input

    III.2.2 Output

    IV. References

    Williams, J.R., P.T. Dyke and C.A. Jones. 1983.EPIC: a model for assessing the effects of erosion on soil productivity. In Analysis of Ecological Systems: State-of-the-Art in Ecological Modeling. Eds. W.K. Laurenroth et al.. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp553-572.

    Jones, C.A., C.V. Cole, A.N. Sharpley, and J.R. Williams. 1984. A simplified soil and plantphosphorus model. I. Documentation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48(4):800-805.

    Williams, J.R., C.A. Jones, and P.T. Dyke. 1984. A modeling approach to determining therelationship between erosion and soil productivity. Trans. ASAE 27:129-144.

    Full list of References

    V. Further information in the World-Wide-Web

    VI. Additional remarks

    Global change implications: EPIC has been used widely forthe study of global change. The most noteworthy example is theMINK (Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas) study conducted by Rosenbergand Crosson (Rosenberg and Crosson, 1991). This study examinedthe effects of elevated CO2 (EPIC had to be modified to incorporatesensitivity to CO2) and temperature on crop yields, soil erosion andeconomics in this four state region. The MINK study also provides generalinsights about the use of models for global change research.

    Last review of this document by: T. Gabele: 23. 07. 1997 -
    Status of the document:
    last modified by Tobias Gabele Wed Aug 21 21:44:42 CEST 2002

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