Background:
In India, sweet potato is the third most important tuber crop after potato and cassava, and it is grown in almost all states except Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Realizing the potential and actual yields at farm level in different agro-climatic conditions is important. It is tedious and laborious to quantify the yield response in different field conditions and controlled experiments. Conducting such experiments in computer with the help of a simulation model of sweet potato is important. A crop growth simulation model which explains the crop behaviour of sweet potato under more wide range of conditions was essential. Hence SPOTCOMS model was developed. Technology Details:
SPOTCOMS the dynamic crop growth simulation model of sweet potato that facilitates quantitative understanding of the effect of environmental, varietal factors and agronomic management factors on crop growth and productivity of sweet potato. It mimics the growth and development of sweet potato and helps to study crop growth and to calculate growth responses to the environment. It simulates or imitates the behavior of the real crop by predicting the growth of its components or organs or parts. It not only predicts the final state of the production or harvestable yield, but also contains quantitative information about major processes involved in the growth and development of the crop. It represents the crop in computer and effect of different management practices, environmental impacts, input applications etc on the performance of the crop can be understood with the help of it. This helps to save the resources and time spent on field conditions to a large extent