Modeling Maize Production towards Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendation in Ghana

2014

English

The use of crop growth simulation models such as those incorporated into Decision Support System for Agro technology Transfer (DSSAT) are useful tools for assessing the impacts of crop productivity under various management systems. The maize growth model of DSSAT is CERES-Maize. To use it to predict fertilizer recommendation for maize (Zea mays L.) under Guinea savanna agro ecological conditions, data on maize growth, yield and development as well as data on soil and weather were collected from field experiment conducted during the 2010 growing season at Kpalesawgu in Ghana. The model was calibrated using various crop growth and development data observed at the field experiment at Kpalesawgu. Maize variety obatanpa was used in the experiment. The cultivar coefficient was calibrated with data collected from the field experiment. All measured data on phenology, grain yield and biomass from the field experiment were used for model validation and simulations

Atakora, W. K.; Fosu, M.; Marthey, F.