Second Announcement: 1 April, 1997
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 Muscle Shoals, Alabama,
during May 12-23, 1997. 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 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.
Space in the workshop is limited to 30 participants. Invited
faculty includes James W. Jones and Ken Boote, University of
Florida, Gerrit Hoogenboom, University of Georgia, and Tony
Hunt, University of Guelph. The ASCII version of the program
brochure and application form is appended below.
Please visit our web site for more information:
http://www.ifdc.org/crop.htm
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To apply, complete the enrollment form and mail, fax, or e-mail
it to IFDC by May 1, 1997.
For more information on the program, to register, or to request
a written brochure, please respond to:
Coordinator, 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]
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 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]
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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 Muscle Shoals, Alabama, during May 12-23, 1997.
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.
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, 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, Universities of Florida and Georgia, and
international agricultural research centers 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 $1700 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 v3.1 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 $75-$80/day.
IFDC will make reservations for participants at a convenient,
quality motel.
About the Training Program
The program will begin May 12 and end May 23, 1997. 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 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, fax, or
e-mail it to IFDC by May 1, 1997. 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 is required for entry into the United States. Each
participant must obtain a visitor visa from the Embassy or
Consulate of the United States in his or her country of
residence and fulfill any required health formalities.
Weather
The weather in the Muscle Shoals area is warm in May. Daytime
temperatures average 75-85 F (24-29 C), and nighttime
temperatures average 55-60 F (12-15 C). Daytime relative
humidity varies between 70% and 85%.
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 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.
Cosponsors
The University of Georgia
University of Florida
International Consortium for Agricultural Systems
Applications (ICASA)
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 May 1, 1997.
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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:
Coordinator, 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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Paul W. Wilkens, Ph.D.
International Fertilizer Development Center
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662 USA
Tel (205) 381-6600
Fax (205) 381-7408
e-mail [log in to unmask]
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