2006 Training Program on DSSAT Version 4

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

May 15-May 24, 2006

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 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 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 and now also cotton. 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 15 and end May 24, 2006.  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, 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. 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 14 and $1650
if you register after April 14. 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
14, 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 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 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 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/dssat06/>http://www.caes.uga.edu/events/dssat06/.
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: 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: 1-770-229-3438; Fax: 1-770-228-7218
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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