Is DSSAT crop model ?

 Dear all,

I have noticed that many researcher are reporting that "DSSAT is a model" i.e

Even in conferences, they are mentioning that yield simulation was done using "DSSAT model". 

Unfortunately, it is wrong. DSSAT is not a model.

Q. Why DSSAT is not a model ?

Ans: As DSSAT website has clearly mentioned that DSSAT is a software application program comprises dynamic crop growth simulation models and intact with soil and water module.

Q. What is model in DSSAT

Ans: DSSAT have several Crop Simulation Models (CSM) such as: CERES for cereal crops, Substor for root crops, CANEGRO for sugarcane, CROPGROW for peanut and oilseed and many more.

Q. So, What is the right way to write/cite or mentioned

Ans: Well, DSSAT have different crop models over 42 crops then it can write as DSSAT-CSM-(Crop model name i.e. CERES or ..). 

However, Aquacrop, GECROS, SPASS, STICS, SIRUS, LINTUL, WOFOST are popular crop models. 

Reference:

https://dssat.net/

Climate Change: questions and answers part 3

 Ques: We would appreciate if you can suggest any potential questions for this purpose. Can you say whether the climate change has similar or variable impact on food production at varying latitude? If so, explain the reason for the similar or variable impact?

Ans: Yes, The climate change have a variable impact on food production at varying latitude because change in latitude changes the climate which may be either tropical and temperate and also the belt of vegetation which primarily depends upon climatic conditions. It can be seen that in the tropical climate, higher temperature will create more atmospheric water demand leading to water stress. The developing countries are located in tropical climate which have fewer resources with low adaptive capacity to the changing agricultural production because of climate change. So, it is not necessary that climate will have similar impact on variation of latitude, it will always be variable in nature.

Ques: What are the properties of crop model for its application in climate change impact analysis?
Ans: The properties of crop model for its application in climate change impact analysis:

1) Basic growth processes

2) Phenological development

3) Biomass accumulation

4) Growth and yield

5) Soil water balance

6) Soil carbon and nitrogen balance

Use soil-crop models system (DSSAT, APSIM, Expert-N, InfoCrop) for:

a) evaluation of adaptation options:

– Weather uncertainty

–Input uncertainty (Price and management)

b) evaluation of climate change mitigation:

– Water and nutrient management to reduce greenhouse gas emission

– Organic farming for carbon sequestration

Q: Often precipitation and temperature are the most commonly required parameters used for impact studies. Give some examples of impact study procedures (ex. flood) and the parameters that you would use from climate projections.

Ans: After downscaling either by statistical or dynamical method following procedure are adopted:

A) Qualitative Description

B) Indicators of change

C) Compliance to standards

D) Cost and benefit

E) Geographical analysis

F) Dealing  with uncertainty

 The parameters that would be used from climate projections are:

Precipitation, Temperature, CO2, Land use, Pollution, Water resources, agriculture.

Q: Describe the type of downscaling approach you would use for (a) a flood study and (b) a rice yield change study. Give reasons for your choice

Ans: For flood study dynamic scaling method would be used because,it is based upon assumptions and resolutions and if forced with with observations it can simulate real natural events which is not possible in case of statistical scaling approach.

While, for rice yield statistical scaling method would be used because, it is based upon generation of synthetic series of data at a local variable site between local scale predict and large scale predictors, as results are limited to local climatic conditions and enormous amount of previous year data is needed to compute the analysis.

Q:  What is the difference between climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation?

Ans: Adaptation and mitigation are complementary to each other. For example, if mitigation measures are undertaken effectively, lesser will be the impacts to which we will need to adapt. Similarly, if adaptation measures are strong, lesser might be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change.
There are some differences between adaptation and mitigation, but if the key vulnerabilities to climate change are to be addressed, adaptation is essential as even after the most rigorous mitigation efforts, climate change will continue in the next few decades. At the same time, mitigation is necessary because reliance on adaptation alone could eventually lead to a magnitude of climate change to which effective adaptation is possible only at very high social, environmental, and economic costs.

Some observed incidents:

• https://www.dw.com/en/mysterious-mass-fish-kill-in-oder-river-climate-change-or-poison/a-62784099

• https://www.dw.com/en/netherlands-drought-in-the-land-of-dikes/av-62819066

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20308190?via%3Dihub

Reports

• https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/

• https://unfccc.int/

• https://unu.edu/

• https://sites.google.com/view/rk-srivastava/publications

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