Technical data

104.

Decision Support System

for Agrotechnology

Transfer (DSSAT)

• Latest DSSAT Version 4 software that combines crop, soil and weather data bases into standard formats for access by

crop models and application programs. [Developed by ICASA through International Benchmark Sites Network for

Agrotechnology Transfer (IBSNAT) project]

• A software package integrating the effects of soil, crop phenotype, weather and management options that allows users

to ask "what if" questions and simulate results by conducting, in minutes on a desktop computer, experiments which

would consume a significant part of an agronomist's career.

• The DSSAT package incorporates models of 27 different crops with new tools that facilitate the creation and

management of experimental, soil, and weather data files. The user can then simulate multi-year outcomes of crop

management strategies for different crops at any location in the world.

• DSSAT also provides for validation of crop model outputs; thus allowing users to compare simulated outcomes with

observed results. Crop model validation is accomplished by inputting the user's minimum data

, running the model, and

comparing outputs.

• By simulating probable outcomes of crop management strategies, DSSAT offers users information with which to

rapidly appraise new crops, products, and practices for adoption.

• DSSAT v4 includes improved application programs for seasonal and sequence analyses that assess the economic risks

and environmental impacts associated with irrigation, fertilizer and nutrient management, climate change, soil carbon

sequestration, climate variability and precision management.

• Personal Computer running MS-Windows; Pentium4 with 512MB RAM; with CD-Rom Drive and Hard Disk Space

requirement 300MB of free space.

• Loaded with Land Module; Management Module; Soil module; Weather module; Soil-Plant-Atmosphere module ;

CROPGRO plant growth module (Grain Legumes; Vegetables and Grasses); CERES Plant Growth Module (Grain

Cereals) and SUBSTOR Plant Growth Module.

• A suite of tools is supplied for data management and analysis. XBuild

is used to create and modify experiment files

(X-Files). The suite of tools includes (but is not limited to) ATCreate

(observed data), Weatherman (Weather data),

GBuild

(Graphing of outputs), and SBuild (Soil database).

• Additional accessory tools desired include ICSim, Stats and EZ Grapher to access the DSSAT data for applications