Vol. 10, Issue 1 (2021)

Author(s):
B Sabarinathan, S Pazhanivelan, KP Ragunath, AP Sivamurugan and NS Sudarmanian

Abstract:
Crop simulation models were often used to characterize the growth and development of a crop and access the field crop production practices. The aim of this study is to calibrate and evaluate the rabi sorghum genotype under rainfed condition in the Viruthunagar and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu using the DSSAT crop simulation model. DSSAT requires weather and soil file of the study area, details of crop management practices and genetic coefficient of the specified crop to simulate the yield. In this study, the data from the six field trials with three different planting dates at the study area was used to calibrate the model for rabi season of 2019 -2020. Observed data on crop yield and Leaf Area Index (LAI) from the farmer’s field at different sites was used to validate the model simulated results. This exercise of calibration of specific parameters of rabi sorghum using DSSAT-CERES Sorghum performed well and the model could be used as decision support tool for various applications.