Fertilizer Emission Scenario Tool for crop management system scenarios
What is the Fertilizer Emission Scenario Tool?
The Fertilizer Emission Scenario Tool for CMAQ (FEST-C) is a high-end computer interface that simulates daily fertilizer application information for any gridded domain. It has been applied in the U.S., southern Canada and northern Mexico and China. It integrates the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model with agricultural land management and land use.
What are the benefits of using FEST-C?
FEST-C guides users through daily fertilizer simulation processes based on an adaptation of the USDA Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model. Users can assess not only the impacts of agricultural fertilization and management practices on air quality, but also the impacts of meteorology and air quality on crop yield, soil erosion, and overall nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus biogeochemical status of the agricultural ecosystem.
Who should use FEST-C?
FEST-C is designed for the CMAQ user community and scientists and resource managers who need spatially complete and consistent regional-scale estimates of nitrogen and phosphorus losses to air and water, ecosystem services, and human health endpoints.
How does FEST-C work?
FEST-C is a Linux-based tool set with a Java-based interface and EPIC modeling system. The EPIC interface contains 13 sub-interface tools that guide users through the simulation process. It uses the current release of the Spatial Allocator Raster Tool system to link with several remotely sensed land use and land cover data sets.
Download Now
FEST-C is available for download from the Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) website. EPA instituted the CMAS website in 2001 to provide community air quality modeling support, sharing of ideas and techniques through communication, and to encourage the growth of the community. It is currently operated under contract by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment.
Technical Contact
- Yongshan Wan (wan.yongshan@epa.gov)