A Training Program on DSSAT Version 4

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

May 17-May 26, 2004

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. Many
weather, soil, genetic 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/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 new windows-based Decision Support System for
Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) Version 4 software (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 new 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 new
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 new, 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 and brachiaria. The
CENTURY model for the simulation of soil carbon and nitrogen is also
included in CSM. DSSAT v4 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 17 and end May 26, 2004.  It will be held on
the Griffin Campus of The University of Georgia (UGA), College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Griffin, Georgia,
USA.  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, Iowa State University
Dr. K.J. Boote, The University of Florida
Dr. W.T. Bowen, International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural
Development
Dr. L.A. Hunt, University of Guelph
Dr. J.W. Jones, The University of Florida
Dr. U. Singh, International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural
Development
Dr. P.W. Wilkens, International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural
Development
... and other experts from the International Consortium for Agricultural
Systems Applications (ICASA)

Cosponsors
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 16 and $1600 if you
register after April 16. It covers  resource material including the DSSAT
v4.0 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 16, 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 $25 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 our office. The Office of Continuing Education is
located in the Stuckey Building, Room 125, on the Griffin Campus. Business
hours 8 am-5 pm, M-F.
-  By telephone: Our telephone number is 770.229.3477. Credit card payment
only if registering by phone.
-  By fax: Fill out your registration form and fax it to  770.233.6180.
Payment is by credit card only.
   Online: Go to our web site at www.ICASA.net. Fill out a registration
form and send it to us electronically. To complete your registration,
forward your payment by mail or fax. 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 Kay Crawley
The University of Georgia, Office of Continuing Education
1109 Experiment Street
Griffin, GA 30223
Telephone: 770.229.3477; Fax: 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: 770.229.3438; Fax: 770.228.7218
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ICASA.net/events/dssat2004.html

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Gerrit Hoogenboom
Professor
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
The University of Georgia
165 Gordon Futral Court
Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797, USA

1-770-229-3438 (voice); 1-770-228-7218 (fax)
mailto:[log in to unmask]
www.Georgiaweather.net
www.GerritHoogenboom.com
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