Agronomy & crop production
August 2025
This book offers a comprehensive insight into the integration of system simulation tools and agrometeorological advisory services, aimed at enhancing climate-resilient agricultural decision-making. Designed for students, researchers, extension professionals, and policy planners, it highlights the role of dynamic simulation models in forecasting crop growth, evaluating management practices, and delivering timely and location-specific weather-based advisories to farmers. As agriculture increasingly faces challenges from climate variability and extreme weather events, agromet advisories serve as critical instruments for reducing risk and improving farm-level preparedness. The book presents a structured understanding of simulation approaches for modeling soil-plant-atmosphere interactions and links them with operational agromet advisory services in India and other regions. It explores the role of decision support systems (DSS), climate-smart strategies, and digital innovations in the delivery of these advisories.
Drawing on interdisciplinary knowledge from agrometeorology, crop modeling, ICT, ITK, and extension science, the book also documents field-level experiences, success stories, and case studies that demonstrate how simulation-aided advisories have transformed traditional farming systems. Emphasis is laid on tools such as DSSAT, APSIM, and other region-specific models and their application in both research and operational contexts. Importantly, the book underscores the significance of integrating local knowledge, feedback loops, and stakeholder participation in the development and dissemination of advisories. It reflects the growing need to transform agromet services from being data providers to knowledge enablers for smallholder farmers.
Overall, this publication is a timely contribution to the knowledge base on system simulation and climate services for agriculture. It aligns with global goals of food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable farming, and serves as a valuable resource for professionals working at the interface of weather, technology, and agriculture.