Abstract:Parameter sensitivity analysis is crucial to the process of model localization. In this study, both the Morris and EFAST (extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test) methods were applied to test the sensitivities of outputs of CERESWheat model to its cultivar and ecotype parameters. The wheat crop planted during 2007—2010 was simulated under the potential, attainable and actual yield level at Yangling, Shaanxi Province. CERESWheat outputs of interest included anthesis date, maturity date, yield and above-ground biomass. The results showed that the anthesis and maturity dates were highly influenced by photoperiod response (P1D), accumulated temperature in the duration of emergence stage to terminal spike differentiation stage (P1), accumulated temperature in the duration of terminal spike differentiation stage to flag leaf stage (P2), and vernalization effect (VEFF). Moreover, maturity date was sensitive to grain filling phase duration (P5). Yield and above-ground biomass were highly influenced by PAR before and after flag leaf stage (PARUE, PARU2), P1D, P1 and P2. Moreover, biomass was sensitive to standard kernel size (G2) and kernel number per unit canopy weight at anthesis (G1). The correlation coefficient between the Morris mean and the EFAST total sensitivity index was high, indicating that the Morris method with less computation could be used to select the sensitive model parameters.