Agroecological Resource Area Databases for the Prairies: User's Manual

V. Kirkwood, A. Bootsma, R. de Jong, J. Dumanski, J. C. Hiley, E. C. Huffman, A. Moore, C. Onofrei, W. W. Pettapiece, B. Vigier

CLBRR Contribution No. 93-17

Technical Bulletin 1993-13E

Abstract

Résumé

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Agroecological Resource Area Databases for the Prairies: User's Manual

The Agroecological Resource Area maps were developed to provide biophysically homogenous units at a scale of 1:2 million which can be used to study agriculture, land use and conservation. These Agroecological Resource Areas (ARAs) represent areas of generally similar agricultural potential, and are based on ecoclimatic zonation, landform and soil characteristics. The ARA boundaries can be seen on the ARA maps for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The ARAs have served as a convenient planning unit upon which to develop data for use in agricultural research. It is the purpose of this report to document the types of information stored in these data files.

The digitized ARA maps for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and the associated data files, currently reside in an ARC/INFO Geographic Information System (GIS). This GIS is part of the Canada Soil Information System (CanSIS). The common linking factor, or key, between all the ARA data files is the combined ARA number and province designation. ARA numbers are unique within provinces. The addition of the province code makes the key unique country-wide. There is also a linkage, through the soil series code, to the Soil Names File and Soil Layer File, which are stored in the National Soil Data Base.

Data can be exported from these files in Arc Export or ASCII format, along with appropriate file documentation. Requests to obtain these data should be addressed to:

          Dr. J. Dumanski, Research Scientist,
          Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research,
          Research Branch,  Agriculture Canada,
          Central Experimental Farm, Building 74,
          Ottawa, Ontario,
          Canada,  K1A 0C6
          dumanskij@ncccot.agr.ca

The ARA maps can be obtained in electronic or hard copy format by contacting:

          Head, CanSIS,
          Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research,
          Research Branch, Agriculture Canada,
          Central Experimental Farm, Neatby Building,
          Ottawa, Ontario
          Canada, K1A 0C6
          schutp@ncccot.agr.ca

Data Files Associated with the Agroecological Resource Area Maps

The data can be grouped into two broad categories: measured or derived physical values which can be used as input to various models; and the output from several crop, soil moisture and climate models.

The following is a list of the various data files in the ARA Database:

Data File Name       Description                                     Data Type

CLIMBAS.DAT    Basic Climate Data based on 1951-80 normals,          Derived
                   reported as average monthly values

CLIMIND.DAT    Climate indices derived from the 1951-80 normals      Derived

DAILY.DAT      Daily climate data, 1955-1985                         Measured

ECONOMICS.DAT  Economic data, Census of Agriculture, 1981 & 1986     Measured    
                                     
FORARID.DAT    Forage Aridity Index, 1965-1985                       Modelled

LANDUSE.DAT    Crop proportions, Census of Agriculture, 1981 & 1986  Measured
                                      
SIMYLDWH.DAT   Output from PIXMOD wheat model                        Modelled

SOILBASE.DAT   General soil and landform information                 Derived

SOILLINK.DAT   Cross tabulation link into Soil Names and Soil        Measured      
                   Layer files

SOILTEMP.DAT   Soil temperature data by month                        Modelled

WHTSTRESS.DAT  Wheat stress data using Versatile Soil Moisture       Modelled
                   Budget

Appendix A:    Simulated Wheat Yields:  Manitoba Prototype (PIXPROTO.DAT)

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References