Use of decision-support systems modelling, and geographical information systems

Farmers’ production systems vary with respect to rainfall, soil type and socio-economic circumstances and, therefore, they are complex. Dealing with such complexity only by empirical research is expensive and inefficient. Use of models and geographical information systems (GIS) will facilitate the transfer of workable technologies to other similar agro-ecological zones. The use of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) and GIS will facilitate cost-effective extrapolation of findings to other agro-ecozones similar of the benchmark sites chosen for testing technologies.

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EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND MULCHING MANAGEMENT