Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model

Fikadu Getachew; Gizachew Legesse; Girma Mamo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model

Fikadu Getachew, Gizachew Legesse, Girma Mamo

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 4, Issue 1)

Received: 9 November 2015 Accepted: 21 November 2015 Published: 16 February 2016

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Abstract

Sorghum is grown mainly in the semi-arid areas. In spite of the fact that there was observed high climate variability in the last few decades, rain fed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production is still an important source of food and feed in the semiarid regions of Ethiopia. Although sorghum is realized as crop tolerant to water deficit, compared with other semiarid crops in Ethiopia, climate variability and change has been challenging its production and no intensive crop simulation modeling was done as it was desired. In this study the CERES-Sorghum Model of Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) has been tested over the north Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We have checked what would be the best combination of management options under research and farmers’ practice conditions for each sites for the historical climatological periods (1980-2010) in which we have found that the model performs well in assimilating the real situation in our sentinel sites in both research and farmers’ management practices. The potential grain yield from the DSSAT model would go up to 2.5T/ha under best scenario rainfall seasons without applying the developed technology package application (which we call it farmer’s condition). The same sorghum variety has a potential yield of 6.2 T/ha if one can apply the recommended best bet technology packages (planting date, planting population, sowing data, fertilizer application rate and time) within the same season. Hereby we can assert that the application of the developed technology packages would make a difference of up to 3.7 T/ha of grain sorghum yield under the same season. Even though applying the technology packages according to the prevailing seasons would significantly matter the expected grain yield, the worst possible grain yield lose would be minimized by applying the best bet technology packages that fits the specific season. Moreover, the selected sentinel sites were few, the result can be extrapolated using the calibrated crop simulation modeling to larger areas to develop strategic plans to improve grain yield of sorghum in Ethiopia.

Published in	International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 4, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
Page(s)	7-13
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Crop Simulation, DSSAT, Sorghum, Technology Packages

References

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[3]	Alexandrov, V. A., Hoogenboom, G., 2000. The impact of climate variability and change on crop yield in Bulgaria. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Volume 104, Pages 315-327. Pages 315-327.
[4]	Belton, P. S., & Taylor, J. R. (2004). Sorghum and millets: protein sources for Africa. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 15(2), 94-98.
[5]	Boote, K. J., Jones, J. W., & Pickering, N. B. (1996). Potential uses and limitations of crop models. Agronomy Journal, 88(5), 704-716.
[6]	Boote, K. J., Jones, J. W., Hoogenboom, G., & Pickering, N. B. (1998). The CROPGRO model for grain legumes. In Understanding options for agricultural production (pp. 99-128). Springer Netherlands.
[7]	Doggett, H. (1988). Sorghum. Harlow, Essex, England: Longman Scientific & Technical.
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[10]	International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics, Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Commodities, & Trade Division. (1996). The world sorghum and millet economies: facts, trends and outlook. Food & Agriculture Org.
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[16]	Singh, P., Boote, K. J., & Virmani, S. M. (1994). Evaluation of the groundnut model PNUTGRO for crop response to plant population and row spacing. Field Crops Research, 39(2), 163-170.
[17]	Singh, P., Boote, K. J., Rao, A. Y., Iruthayaraj, M. R., Sheikh, A. M., Hundal, S. S., ... & Singh, P. (1994). Evaluation of the groundnut model PNUTGRO for crop response to water availability, sowing dates, and seasons. Field Crops Research, 39(2), 147-162.
[18]	Taylor, J. R. N. (2003, April). Overview: Importance of sorghum in Africa. In Proceedings of AFRIPRO Workshop on the Proteins of Sorghum and Millets: Enhancing Nutritional and Functional Properties for Africa, Pretoria, South Africa (Vol. 9).
[19]	Tsuji, G. Y., Hoogenboom, G., & Thornton, P. K. (1998). Understanding options for agricultural production (Vol. 7). Springer Science & Business Media.
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Fikadu Getachew, Gizachew Legesse, Girma Mamo. (2016). Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 4(1), 7-13. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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ACS Style

Fikadu Getachew; Gizachew Legesse; Girma Mamo. Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2016, 4(1), 7-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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AMA Style

Fikadu Getachew, Gizachew Legesse, Girma Mamo. Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2016;4(1):7-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12,
  author = {Fikadu Getachew and Gizachew Legesse and Girma Mamo},
  title = {Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-13},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  abstract = {Sorghum is grown mainly in the semi-arid areas. In spite of the fact that there was observed high climate variability in the last few decades, rain fed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production is still an important source of food and feed in the semiarid regions of Ethiopia. Although sorghum is realized as crop tolerant to water deficit, compared with other semiarid crops in Ethiopia, climate variability and change has been challenging its production and no intensive crop simulation modeling was done as it was desired. In this study the CERES-Sorghum Model of Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) has been tested over the north Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We have checked what would be the best combination of management options under research and farmers’ practice conditions for each sites for the historical climatological periods (1980-2010) in which we have found that the model performs well in assimilating the real situation in our sentinel sites in both research and farmers’ management practices. The potential grain yield from the DSSAT model would go up to 2.5T/ha under best scenario rainfall seasons without applying the developed technology package application (which we call it farmer’s condition). The same sorghum variety has a potential yield of 6.2 T/ha if one can apply the recommended best bet technology packages (planting date, planting population, sowing data, fertilizer application rate and time) within the same season. Hereby we can assert that the application of the developed technology packages would make a difference of up to 3.7 T/ha of grain sorghum yield under the same season. Even though applying the technology packages according to the prevailing seasons would significantly matter the expected grain yield, the worst possible grain yield lose would be minimized by applying the best bet technology packages that fits the specific season. Moreover, the selected sentinel sites were few, the result can be extrapolated using the calibrated crop simulation modeling to larger areas to develop strategic plans to improve grain yield of sorghum in Ethiopia.},
 year = {2016}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model
AU  - Fikadu Getachew
AU  - Gizachew Legesse
AU  - Girma Mamo
Y1  - 2016/02/16
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 7
EP  - 13
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
AB  - Sorghum is grown mainly in the semi-arid areas. In spite of the fact that there was observed high climate variability in the last few decades, rain fed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production is still an important source of food and feed in the semiarid regions of Ethiopia. Although sorghum is realized as crop tolerant to water deficit, compared with other semiarid crops in Ethiopia, climate variability and change has been challenging its production and no intensive crop simulation modeling was done as it was desired. In this study the CERES-Sorghum Model of Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) has been tested over the north Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We have checked what would be the best combination of management options under research and farmers’ practice conditions for each sites for the historical climatological periods (1980-2010) in which we have found that the model performs well in assimilating the real situation in our sentinel sites in both research and farmers’ management practices. The potential grain yield from the DSSAT model would go up to 2.5T/ha under best scenario rainfall seasons without applying the developed technology package application (which we call it farmer’s condition). The same sorghum variety has a potential yield of 6.2 T/ha if one can apply the recommended best bet technology packages (planting date, planting population, sowing data, fertilizer application rate and time) within the same season. Hereby we can assert that the application of the developed technology packages would make a difference of up to 3.7 T/ha of grain sorghum yield under the same season. Even though applying the technology packages according to the prevailing seasons would significantly matter the expected grain yield, the worst possible grain yield lose would be minimized by applying the best bet technology packages that fits the specific season. Moreover, the selected sentinel sites were few, the result can be extrapolated using the calibrated crop simulation modeling to larger areas to develop strategic plans to improve grain yield of sorghum in Ethiopia.
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Fikadu Getachew

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Climate and Geospatial Research Directorate (CGRD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Gizachew Legesse

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Climate and Geospatial Research Directorate (CGRD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Girma Mamo

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Climate and Geospatial Research Directorate (CGRD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Fikadu Getachew, Gizachew Legesse, Girma Mamo. (2016). Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 4(1), 7-13. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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ACS Style

Fikadu Getachew; Gizachew Legesse; Girma Mamo. Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2016, 4(1), 7-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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AMA Style

Fikadu Getachew, Gizachew Legesse, Girma Mamo. Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2016;4(1):7-13. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12,
  author = {Fikadu Getachew and Gizachew Legesse and Girma Mamo},
  title = {Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model},
  journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {7-13},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20160401.12},
  abstract = {Sorghum is grown mainly in the semi-arid areas. In spite of the fact that there was observed high climate variability in the last few decades, rain fed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production is still an important source of food and feed in the semiarid regions of Ethiopia. Although sorghum is realized as crop tolerant to water deficit, compared with other semiarid crops in Ethiopia, climate variability and change has been challenging its production and no intensive crop simulation modeling was done as it was desired. In this study the CERES-Sorghum Model of Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) has been tested over the north Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We have checked what would be the best combination of management options under research and farmers’ practice conditions for each sites for the historical climatological periods (1980-2010) in which we have found that the model performs well in assimilating the real situation in our sentinel sites in both research and farmers’ management practices. The potential grain yield from the DSSAT model would go up to 2.5T/ha under best scenario rainfall seasons without applying the developed technology package application (which we call it farmer’s condition). The same sorghum variety has a potential yield of 6.2 T/ha if one can apply the recommended best bet technology packages (planting date, planting population, sowing data, fertilizer application rate and time) within the same season. Hereby we can assert that the application of the developed technology packages would make a difference of up to 3.7 T/ha of grain sorghum yield under the same season. Even though applying the technology packages according to the prevailing seasons would significantly matter the expected grain yield, the worst possible grain yield lose would be minimized by applying the best bet technology packages that fits the specific season. Moreover, the selected sentinel sites were few, the result can be extrapolated using the calibrated crop simulation modeling to larger areas to develop strategic plans to improve grain yield of sorghum in Ethiopia.},
 year = {2016}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Best Bet Technology Package Development to Improve Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia Using the Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) Model
AU  - Fikadu Getachew
AU  - Gizachew Legesse
AU  - Girma Mamo
Y1  - 2016/02/16
PY  - 2016
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
T2  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JF  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
JO  - International Journal of Science, Technology and Society
SP  - 7
EP  - 13
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7420
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20160401.12
AB  - Sorghum is grown mainly in the semi-arid areas. In spite of the fact that there was observed high climate variability in the last few decades, rain fed sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production is still an important source of food and feed in the semiarid regions of Ethiopia. Although sorghum is realized as crop tolerant to water deficit, compared with other semiarid crops in Ethiopia, climate variability and change has been challenging its production and no intensive crop simulation modeling was done as it was desired. In this study the CERES-Sorghum Model of Decision Support System for Agro-Technology Transfer (DSSAT) has been tested over the north Rift Valley of Ethiopia. We have checked what would be the best combination of management options under research and farmers’ practice conditions for each sites for the historical climatological periods (1980-2010) in which we have found that the model performs well in assimilating the real situation in our sentinel sites in both research and farmers’ management practices. The potential grain yield from the DSSAT model would go up to 2.5T/ha under best scenario rainfall seasons without applying the developed technology package application (which we call it farmer’s condition). The same sorghum variety has a potential yield of 6.2 T/ha if one can apply the recommended best bet technology packages (planting date, planting population, sowing data, fertilizer application rate and time) within the same season. Hereby we can assert that the application of the developed technology packages would make a difference of up to 3.7 T/ha of grain sorghum yield under the same season. Even though applying the technology packages according to the prevailing seasons would significantly matter the expected grain yield, the worst possible grain yield lose would be minimized by applying the best bet technology packages that fits the specific season. Moreover, the selected sentinel sites were few, the result can be extrapolated using the calibrated crop simulation modeling to larger areas to develop strategic plans to improve grain yield of sorghum in Ethiopia.
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  -

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