The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in collaboration with
the University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of Hawaii, and
International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applications (ICASA), is
organizing the International Training Program on Computer Simulation of Crop
Growth and Management Responses at IFDC Headquarters in Muscle Shoals,
Alabama, during May 17-28, 1999. The ASCII version of the program brochure is
appended below.
For more information on the program or to request a brochure and application
form, please respond to:
Thomas P. Thompson
Interim Director
Human Resource Development Unit
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telefax : 256-381-7408
Telephone : 256-381-6600
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
Web : http://www.ifdc.org/ifdc/croptp.htm
An enrollment form will be sent (via surface mail, telefax or e-mail) to every
respondent. To apply, complete the enrollment form and mail, fax, or e-mail
it to IFDC by May 1, 1999.
You may register via e-mail by replying to the email address above, NOT by
responding to this listserver. If you have any questions regarding the
technical content of the workshop, please address them to either
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
For more information about IFDC training programs in 1999, address your
inquiries to:
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662
U.S.A.
Telephone : 256-381-6600
Telefax : 256-381-7408
E-Mail : [log in to unmask]
Web : http://www.ifdc.org/ifdc/1999tp.htm
Program 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.
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 v3.5 software.
- Description of the CERES, SUBSTOR, and CROPGRO computer simulation models.
- Data requirements and collection for systems -simulation.
- Application of the simulation, models to cropping, environmental, and
sustainability problems.
- Integration of the crop simulation models with data base management and
geographic information systems.
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, chickpea, and
tomato), SUBSTOR (potato, aroids), 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) v3.5 software
package. Participants will be provided with a complete copy of DSSAT v3.5.
Faculty
Scientists from IFDC, Universities of Florida and Georgia, and international
agricultural research centers will form the faculty. The faculty includes:
James W. Jones, Distinguished Professor, Ag Engineering
University of Florida
Kenneth Boote, Professor of Agronomy
University of Florida
Gerrit Hoogenboom, Professor, Ag Engineering
University of Georgia
Upendra Singh, Systems Modeler/Soil fertility specialist
IFDC
Paul Wilkens, Systems Modeler/Programmer
IFDC
Qualifications for Application
Participants in this program should:
- Be university graduates currently engaged in crop production or
agro--ecosystems related research, teaching, outreach, or planning.
- 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.
- Be familiar with DOS-based personal computers.
- Be fluent in English.
Registration Fee
The fee for this training program is $1800 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 2-week program, transportation
for field trips, resource material including the DSSAT v3.5 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 $75-$80/day. IFDC will
make hotel reservations for -participants.
About the Training Program
The program will begin May 17 and end May 28, 1999. It will be held at IFDC
Headquarters, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S.A. Participants should plan to
arrive 2 days before the program begins to adjust to time zone differences and
recover from travel fatigue. Muscle Shoals airport is served by Northwest
Airlink from Memphis, Tennessee. Muscle Shoals can also be reached from the
Huntsville, Alabama, airport, which is served by Delta, Northwest, USAir, and
American airlines. Huntsville is 65 miles away from Muscle Shoals, and a taxi
costs around $75 one way.
How to Apply
To apply, complete the enrollment form and mail or telefax it to IFDC by May
1, 1999. 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. Enrollment is limited to 30
participants.
Visa Requirement
A visa may be required for entry into the United States. Each participant must
obtain a visitor visa from the Embassy or Consulate of the United States in
their country of residence and fulfill any required health formalities
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 appropriate use of
plant nutrients in sustainable crop production systems. Headquartered in
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S.A, IFDC conducts its research, training, and
technical assistance programs in collaboration with private, national, and
international organizations throughout the world.
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