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 The purpose of this research is the
development and application of decision support tools for
agricultural decision making, planning, and research and management of
information associated with nutrient management and sustainability.
This research is conducted by Dr. Upendra Singh, Dr. S. H. (Norman)
Chien, Ms. Suzette Smalberger, and Dr. Paul W. Wilkens. A PRDSS that
provides users with the option to compare the agronomic and economic
feasibility of direct application of PR with commercially available
water-soluble phosphate (WSP) fertilizers has been recently developed
and tested at IFDC. The PRDSS predicts the relative agronomic
effectiveness (RAE) of PR with respect to WSP. The RAE as predicted by
the PRDSS depends on: (1) PR sources as quantified by PR solubility
determined using the second extraction with neutral ammonium citrate;
(2) soil pH; (3) crops as they influence the rhizosphere, root quantity
and distribution, uptake of calcium, crop duration, and aluminum
toxicity/tolerance; (4) soil P-fixation capacity; (5) soil texture; (6)
soil organic matter content; (7) aluminum saturation; (8) moisture and
rainfall regime; and (9) lime value of PR source. Using these inputs the
PRDSS predicts the RAE for the initial or fresh application of PR. The
features dealing with the cumulative effect of annual PR application or
the residual value effect is being incorporated in the next version of
the PRDSS.
An interactive decision support system
for climate impact analysis at various temporal and spatial scales is
being developed for decision makers in agriculture and natural resource
management. The applications of the DSS for climate impact analysis are
in conjunction with the Southeast Climate Consortium. Other
applications of spatial modeling are in the Association for
Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)
Region with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),
and fertilizer and technology recommendations in the market development
project in Malawi.
Refined estimates of nutrient balance
and rates of current nutrient depletion in agricultural areas of Latin
America, Asia and Africa were used to characterize regions where
nutrient balance and nutrient mining constitute a significant constraint
to maintain and intensify agricultural production. Most countries in
Latin America continued to show negative nutrient balances. All African
countries except Botswana, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco showed
negative nutrient balances on a per-year basis. Nutrient depletion in
African countries has far-reaching impact that extends beyond the farm
community, regions, and national economies. African nutrient depletion
represents more than $1.5 billion per year in terms of cost of nutrients
as fertilizers.
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