Evaluation on Adaptation Strategies for Enhancing Pearl Millet Productivity under Changing Climate Using DSSAT -Cropgro Model over Semi-Arid Tracts of Tamil Nadu
M. Ramanjineyulu *
Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, TNAU, India.
V. K. Paul Pandi
Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, TNAU, India.
V. Geethalakshmi
Department of Agronomy, TNAU, Coimbatore, India.
C. Vannirajan
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, TNAU, India.
N. S. Venkataraman
Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, TNAU, India.
J. Prabharan
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Coastal Saline Research Centre, Ramanathapuram, TNAU, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai with the treatment combination comprised of three sowing dates at biweekly intervals (II FN of September, I FN of October and II FN of October) and three nitrogen levels Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN), 75% (RDN) and 125% (RDN) replicated thrice with two varieties CO (Cu) 10 and ABV 04 in factorial RBD design. The results obtained from the field trial was used for calibrating and validating the dynamic crop simulation model DSSAT-CROPGRO for predicting the growth and yield of pearl millet crop. Pearl millet is highly responsive and sensitive to precipitation and temperature. Sensitivity of crop model (DSSAT) simulation as well as the response of productivity for the changes in Carbon, Temperature, Water and Nitrogen (CTWN) was assessed. The analysis revealed that raise in elevated temperature beyond 2oC inhibits the growth and productivity of pearl millet. The grain yield of pearl millet was higher when the crop receives 25 per cent more rainfall from the current condition and further increase in rainfall decreased the pearl millet productivity. Increased level of N up to 100 kg ha-1 had positively influenced the grain yield resulting in higher economic returns under the current climate conditions.
Keywords: Pearl millet, climate change, DSSAT- CROPGRO millet model, sensitive analysis