Abstract: In order to improve and optimize the drought evaluation ability of the maize growth simulation model in Northeast China,and to scale up its use on larger region,the sensitivity analysis of parameters in soil water sub-module was carried out.Based on the case study in Yushu (subhumid) and Baicheng (semiarid) weather stations of Jilin province in typical dry years ( 2000,2001) and years with enough or normal precipitation (1998,2002),it showed that:soil moisture was the most sensitive to wilting point,field capacity and crop coefficient and available soil moisture in root zone came second to that.The effects of wilting point,field capacity and initial amount of available soil moisture in root zone on soil moisture were positive.In addition,the results were consistent with different climatic regions and precipitation year patterns. It was difficult to apply the crop growth simulation model on regional scale due to limited measured values of soil and crop parameters mentioned above. And inaccurate estimation of parameters in soil water sub-module could lead to error in soil water content,and further to crop simulation.Simulation precision should be further improved by optimizing parameters according to the results of sensitivity analysis.

Key words: Maize, Maize, Crop growth simulation model, Soil water parameters, Sensitivity analysis