TITLE:
Application of Decision Support System for Agro Technology Transfer (DSSAT) to Simulate Agronomic Practices for Cultivation of Maize in Southern Highland of Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Lusajo Henry Mfwango, Sangharsh Kumar Tripathi, Gogumalla Pranuthi, Sunil Kumar Dubey, Vijay Kumar Gubey
KEYWORDS:
Southern Highlands (Tanzania), DSSAT, Nitrogen Dose, Plant Spacing and Maize Varieties
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
30,
2018
ABSTRACT: The southern highlands zone of Tanzania is the one of the most potential area for agriculture contributes up to 46% of the total country’s maize production. However, the rate of maize production tends to decrease with time due of poor agronomic practices. The aim of this study was to simulate the effect of nitrogen dose and plant spacing on grain yields from five selected maize varieties. Decision Support System for Agrotechnology transfer crop model was used for this purpose. Based on the agroecological zones, six sites were selected which includes Ihumbu farm, Mwazye and Nyera Estate Mbozi, Lupa Tinga Tinga, Santilya and Mbinga. Maize varieties H614, Kitumani Composite I, H511, H626 and H612; Spacing (90 × 30 cm and 60 × 30 cm) and nitrogen dose (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) were simulated. It was found that only H614 (4610.9 kg/ha) and Kitumani Composite I (3998.7 kg/ha) maize varieties performed well at the spacing of 60 × 30 cm and up to the nitrogen dose of 150 kg/ha. Therefore the two maize varieties H614 and Kitumani Composite I could be recommended for cultivation at the spacing of 60 × 30 cm and nitrogen dose of 150 kg/ha for improving production of maize in southern highland of Tanzania.