2008 Training Program on DSSAT

Assessing Crop Production, Nutrient Management, Climatic Risk and
Environmental Sustainability with Simulation Models

May 12-May 21, 2008

Presented by the University of Georgia and the International
Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applications (ICASA)

Rationale
Today more than ever, increased food production depends on judicious
use of resources.  In addition, issues such as climate change,
climate variability, soil carbon sequestration and the long-term
impact on food security and environmental sustainability, have become
important. Computer simulation models of the soil/plant/atmosphere
system can make a valuable contribution to both furthering our
understanding of the processes that determine crop responses and
predicting crop performance, resource use and environmental impacts
for different environments and management scenarios. User-oriented
simulation models greatly facilitate the task of optimizing crop
growth and deriving recommendations concerning crop management.  They
can also be used to determine the potential impact of climate change
on crop production and long-term soil carbon sequestration, or
provide management scenarios for adapting to climate variability.

Program Goal and Objectives
The overall goal of this training program is to familiarize
participants with a comprehensive computer model for the simulation
of crop growth and yield, soil and plant water, nutrient and carbon
dynamics and their application to real world problems.

Specifically the program will focus on:
    * Operation of the windows-based Decision Support System for
Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) Version 4.5 software
(<http://www.icasa.net/DSSAT/>www.ICASA.net/DSSAT/)
    * Description of the new DSSAT-Cropping System Model, CSM and its
modules, such as CROPGRO, and CERES, and the science embedded in the models.
    * Minimum data requirements and experimental data collection for
systems simulation.
    * Integration of crop simulation models with data base management
and Geographical Information Systems.
    * Application of the DSSAT-CSM model to improve management of
cropping systems.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The program will:
    * Describe a practical approach for simulating effects of soil,
weather, management, and pest factors on crop production.
    * Demonstrate how processes of crop growth and development, water
use, uptake of water and nutrients and carbon dynamics can be simulated.
    * Make extensive use of 'hands on' sessions that apply the
DSSAT-CSM model to cropping systems in various regions of the world
    * Describe procedures for collecting and managing crop, weather
and soil data for model evaluation
    * Give participants the opportunity to work with their own data
and determine the accuracy of the models for application to specific problems.
    * Analyze management alternatives for single seasons or over
long-term crop rotations
    * Concentrate on specific applications that include irrigation,
fertilizer and nutrient management, climate change, soil carbon
sequestration, climate variability, and precision management.
    * Assess economic risks and environmental impacts associated with
agricultural production.

Cropping System Model & DSSAT
The program will make extensive use of the DSSAT-Cropping System
Model (CSM).  CSM is a general cropping system model for simulating
crop growth and development and soil and plant water, nitrogen and
carbon dynamics. CSM is comprised of the CROPGRO module for soybean,
peanut, common bean, chickpea, faba bean, cowpea, and other grain
legumes, the CERES module for maize, sorghum and millet, the
CERES-Rice module for rice, the SUBSTOR module for potato, the
CROPSIM-CERES module for wheat and barley, and the CROPGRO module for
tomato, bahia, brachiaria and cotton, the CANEGRO model for
sugarcane, and CROPSIM for cassava. The CENTURY model for the
simulation of soil carbon and nitrogen has also been incorporated in
CSM. DSSAT v4.5 is windows based and includes the CSM model as well
as tools and utility programs for managing soil, weather, genetic,
crop, economic and pest data, and application and analysis programs.

ABOUT THE TRAINING WORKSHOP
When the Workshop Begins
The program will start on May 12 and end May 21, 2008.  It will be
held on the Griffin Campus of The University of Georgia (UGA),
Griffin, Georgia, USA, located just south of Atlanta, GA.
International participants should plan to arrive two days before the
program begins to adjust to time zone differences and recover from
travel fatigue.

Faculty
The following faculty will lecture in this training program:
    * Dr. G. Hoogenboom, the University of Georgia
    * Dr. W.D. Batchelor, Mississippi State University
    * Dr. K.J. Boote, the University of Florida
    * Dr. L.A. Hunt, University of Guelph
    * Dr. J.W. Jones, the University of Florida
    * Dr. J.D. Paz, the University of Georgia
    * Dr. U. Singh, International Center for Soil Fertility and
Agricultural Development
    * Dr. J.W. White, Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS
    * Dr. P.W. Wilkens, International Center for Soil Fertility and
Agricultural Development
    * ... and other experts from the International Consortium for
Agricultural Systems Applications (ICASA)

Co-sponsors
    * The University of Georgia
    * The University of Florida
    * International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development
    * International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applications

Registration Fee
The registration fee is $1500 if you register by April 11 and $1650
if you register after April 11. It covers resource material including
the DSSAT v4.5 software and the book Understanding Options for
Agricultural Production. It also includes AM/PM breaks, lunch on
training days, and registration services. It does not cover
breakfast, dinner, lodging, health insurance, or transportation. Each
participant is responsible for these costs. If you register by April
11, you are assured of receiving a confirmation package. Lodging
secured through the Office of Continuing Education is $45.00 per day.
Food should average about $30 per day. Enrollment is limited to 40
participants.

How to Register: 5 Easy ways
    * By mail: Mail your registration and payment to Office of
Continuing Education, The University of Georgia, Griffin Campus, 1109
Experiment St., Griffin, GA 30223, USA.

    * In Person: Come to the Office of Continuing Education, which is
located in the Stuckey Conference Center, Room 125, on the Griffin
Campus. Business hours 8 am-5 pm, M-F.

    * By telephone: Our telephone number is 1-770-229-3477. Credit
card payment only if registering by phone.

    * By fax: Fill out your registration form and fax it to
1-770-233-6180. Payment is by credit card only.

    * Online: Go to our web site at
<http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/dssat08/>http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/dssat08/.
Fill out a registration form and send it to us electronically. To
complete your registration, forward your payment by mail, fax or bank
transfer. Or, call and give us payment information by telephone. You
may also print the registration form and fax or mail it in with your payment.

For Workshop Information Contact:
Art Cain or Racheal Landers
The University of Georgia, Office of Continuing Education
1109 Experiment Street
Stuckey Conference Center, Room 125
Griffin, GA 30223, USA
Telephone: 1-770-229-3477; Fax: 1-770-233-6180
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

For Program Information Contact:
Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
The University of Georgia
Griffin, GA 30223, USA
Tel: 1-770-228-7216; Fax: 1-770-228-7218
E-mail: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]
www.ICASA.net/events/dssat08.htm
<http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/dssat08/>www.caes.uga.edu/events/dssat08/