The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in
collaboration with the Peanut Collaborative Research Support
Program--USAID, the University of Florida, University of Hawaii,
University of Georgia, and International Consortium
for Agricultural Systems Applications (ICASA), is organizing
the International Training Program on Computer Simulation of
Crop Growth and Management Responses at Lomé, Togo,
during February 9-14, 1997. The ASCII version of the program
brochure is appended below.
To apply, complete the enrollment form and mail, fax, or e-mail
it to IFDC by January 23, 1998.
For more information on the program, to register, or to request
a written brochure, please respond to either:
Director, Human Resource Development Unit
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telefax : 205-381-7408
Telephone: 205-381-6600
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
or
Director
IFDC-Africa
BP 4483
Lomé, Togo
Telefax : (228) 21.78.17
Telephone: (228) 21.79.71
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
Please visit our web page at
http://www.ifdc.org/Togo.htm
You may download a formatted copy of the brochure and application
form by following this link:
ftp://www.ifdc.org/ifdc/CropSimBrochure.rtf
You may register via e-mail by replying to the email address
above ([log in to unmask]), NOT by responding to this listserver.
If you have any questions regarding the content of the workshop,
please address them to [log in to unmask]
For more information about IFDC, its mission, and training
programs, address your inquiries to:
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telephone: 205-381-6600
Telefax : 205-381-7408
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
***************************************************************
International Training Program on Computer
Simulation of Crop Growth and Management Responses
Rationale
Today more than ever, increased food production depends on
judicious use of resources. Many soil, climatic, plant, and
management factors affect the way a crop will respond to
irrigation, fertilizer, and other management practices.
Determining appropriate crop management strategies under these
uncertainties has major economic and environmental implications.
Computer simulation models of the soil/crop/atmosphere system
can make a valuable contribution to both furthering our
understanding of the processes determining crop responses and
predicting crop performance in different areas. With the
increasing availability of personal computers, user-oriented
simulation models will greatly facilitate the task of
optimizing crop and nutrient management and deriving
recommendations concerning crop management. They also can be
used to investigate environmental and sustainability issues
of agro-ecosystems. The International Fertilizer Development
Center (IFDC), in collaboration with the University of Georgia,
University of Florida, Michigan State University, University of
Hawaii, and International Consortium for Agricultural Systems
Applications (ICASA), has been at the forefront in developing
crop models and decision support systems suitable for use and
application in both developed- and developing-country
agriculture. IFDC is organizing this International Training
Program on Computer Simulation of Crop Growth and Management
Responses at Lomé, Togo, during February 9-14, 1998.
Program Objectives
In this training program, participants will learn how a
comprehensive simulation model of crop growth and development
and water and nutrient dynamics is constructed and how it can
be applied to real world problems. Specifically, the program
will focus on:
Operation of the new DSSAT v3.1 software.
Description of the CERES and CROPGRO computer simulation
models.
Data requirements and collection for systems simulation.
Application of the simulation models to cropping,
environmental, and sustainability problems.
Systems modeling of management and genotypic strategies
to improve resource use efficiency under water- and
nutrient-limited conditions.
Program Content
The program will describe the practical approaches to simulating
the effects of soil, climatic, management, and pest factors and
their interaction with the input needs of crops. The program
will demonstrate how the processes of crop growth and
development, water use, uptake of nutrients and response to
irrigation, fertilizer, and other management decisions can be
simulated. The program will make extensive use of "hands-on"
practical sessions on personal computers that demonstrate the
application of simulation models to cropping systems in various
regions of the world. Together with these applications, the
methods for assessing the economic risks and environmental
impacts associated with agricultural production in real world
problems will be discussed. Procedures for managing soil, crop,
and weather data will be described.
The program will make extensive use of the CERES (maize, wheat,
rice, sorghum, barley, and millet), CROPGRO (peanut, soybean,
dry bean, and tomato), SUBSTOR (potato), OILCROP (sunflower),
and CROPSIM (cassava) models for crop growth, development, and
response to water and nutrients. Techniques for simulation of
synthetic weather sequences will be described. Programs to
create, run, and analyze both single season simulations and
crop rotation simulations will be explained. The crop
simulation models, data preparation, and application programs
have been integrated into the new Decision Support System for
Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v3.1 software package.
Participants will be provided with a complete copy of DSSAT
v3.1.
Faculty
Experts from IFDC and the Universities of Florida and Georgia
will form the faculty.
Qualifications for Application
Participants should be university graduates currently engaged
in crop production or agro-ecosystems related research,
teaching, outreach, or planning.
They should have some understanding of soil and crop science
and be relatively familiar with the terminology used in these fields.
An in-depth knowledge is, however, not a prerequisite.
They should be familiar with DOS-based personal computers.
They should be fluent in English.
Registration Fee
The fee for this training program is US $1400 and is due with the
application for enrollment. The fee can be paid by check/draft
in favor of IFDC or by a major credit card-Visa, MasterCard,
or American Express.
The program fee covers the registration for the program,
resource material including the DSSAT v3.1 software, and
tea/coffee breaks. It does not cover food and lodging during
the program nor air transportation and health insurance. Each
participant is responsible for these costs. Food and hotel
lodging will average about $120/day. IFDC will make reservations
for participants at a convenient, quality motel.
About the Training Program
The program will begin Monday, February 9 and end Saturday,
February 14, 1998. It will be held at IFDC-Africa Headquarters,
Lomé, Togo
How to Apply
To apply, complete the enrollment form and mail, fax, or
e-mail it to IFDC by January 23, 1998. Applications received
thereafter will be accepted at IFDC's discretion. An
organization wishing to enroll more than one participant must
supply an enrollment form for each participant.
Visa Requirement
A visa may be required for entry into Togo. Each participant
must ascertain visa requirements and obtain one, if needed, from
the Embassy or Consulate of Togo in his or her country of
residence and fulfill any required health formalities.
Weather
The weather in Lomé is pleasant in February. Daytime
temperatures average 32 C and nighttime temperatures average 24 C.
What is IFDC?
The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is an
international nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing
agricultural productivity and food production in the tropics
and subtropics through the development and use of plant nutrients
in sustainable crop production systems. IFDC conducts its programs
involving human resource development, research, and technical
assistance in collaboration with public, private, national, and
international organizations throughout the world from its
headquarters in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S.A., and two
divisions--Asia Division in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Africa
Division in Lomé, Togo.
Cosponsors
Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program--USAID
University of Florida
International Consortium for Agricultural Systems
Applications (ICASA)
The University of Georgia
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telephone: 205-381-6600
Telefax : 205-381-7408
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
IFDC reserves the right to modify or even to cancel any
program as necessary.
Please complete this enrollment form and return to IFDC
before January 23, 1998.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Application for Enrollment
Please Print or Type
Name (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Miss, Dr.)______________________________
Nationality ____________________ Birthdate _________________
(Month)(Day)(Year)
Name and Mailing Address of Employer
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Telephone _____________ E-Mail ____________ Telefax ________
Present Position _____________________________________________
Length of Experience in Agricultural Research or Extension ___
Home Address and Telephone Number ____________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Organization Funding Your Participation ______________________
Education (Highest Degree Completed, Date, and Major Subject)
______________________________________________________________
Name and Address of Educational Institution __________________
Objective for Enrolling in This Program ______________________
______________________________________________________________
Please e-mail or telefax name(s) of nominee(s) in advance.
_________________________________
Signature of Applicant
_________________________________
Signature of Nominating Authority
_________________________________
Date
Mail form and fee to:
Director, Human Resource Development Unit
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telefax : 205-381-7408
Telephone: 205-381-6600
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
Program fees are due before the commencement of the program
and will be refunded in the event of nonattendance.
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