DSSAT model based assessment for the suitability of kharif sorghum CSH-16 under currentclimate across north interior Karnataka

Abstract

Sorghum is an important cereal staple food crop of millions of people in semi-arid tropics (SAT). It is consideredas the ‘King of millets’ and extensively grown in Africa, India, China, USA and Mexico. In India sorghum is the fifth majorcereal crop grown during both kharif and rabi seasons. CSH-16 hybrid released for kharif land when grown under rainfedsituation the yields are greatly influenced by onset, progress and withdrawal of South West monsoon. As South-West monsoongreatly varies over space and time, it is important to study the performance of kharif sorghum across different districts ofNorth Interior Karnataka (NIK). Study was carried out using DSSAT-CERES model to run the simulations for 31 years (1988-2018) on two predominant soil types (black clay and red loamy soil) grown across nine dates of sowing (15th May to 15th July)at weekly interval following the standard production practices recommended by the university for rain fed crop across12 districts of NIK. Model simulated yearly outputs were averaged for 31 years which showed that average grain yieldsimulated under current climate (1988-2018) in rainfed condition was the highest in Bagalkote (3476 kg/ha) followed byDharwad (3416 kg/ha) and Gadag (3104 kg/ha) districts, where as the lowest was simulated for Koppal (1817kg ha-1) followedby Ballari (2202 kg/ha) and Raichur (2299 kg/ha) districts. Hence this study concludes that under current climate Bagalkote,Dharwad and Gadag districts are the best region to grow kharif sorghum hybrid CSH-16.