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Crop Modeling and Simulation for Agricultural Production Management (CMSAM)

By Prof. Dillip Kumar Swain   |   IIT Kharagpur
Learners enrolled: 966   |  Exam registration: 267
ABOUT THE COURSE:

For development and dissemination of agricultural technologies, experiments are conducted in research stations for long period. Conducting these experiments while involving all the factors i.e., nutrients, water, tillage, pest control, cultural practices, genotype, environment, etc. is very complex, expensive and time consuming. Coupling the modeling exercises with the field experiments can generate data, information, knowledge, etc. for technology development in a lesser time and expenses. This course will enrich the knowledge of students on use of DSS for crop yield prediction under varying environments and agronomic management options. The information generated in the modeling and simulation process through the DSS will assist in better planning and management of agricultural operations in farmers’ field to avoid the risk of crop failure and economic loss due to inadequate management technology, climate change, weather variability, etc.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students, researchers, and scientists of agricultural engineering and agricultural science discipline

PREREQUISITES: B. Tech (Agril Engg.) or B. Sc. (Agri.) in final year

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: IBM Research India Pvt Ltd., Skymet Weather Services Pvt. Ltd., FrontalRain Technologies Pvt. Ltd, RML AgTech Pvt. Ltd., Agricultural Insurance Company of India, International Agriculture Consulting Group Monsanto Farm Agvisory Services
Summary
Course Status : Ongoing
Course Type : Core
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Agricultural and Food Engineering
Credit Points : 3
Level : Postgraduate
Start Date : 19 Jan 2026
End Date : 10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends : 02 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends : 20 Feb 2026
Exam Date : 19 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1:  Introduction to crop production system, Crop classification, Crop growth and development, Crop ecosystem and agroclimatic zones

Week 2: Crop growth factors and growth laws, Effect of climatic factors, Solar radiation interception concept for biomass accumulation and yield prediction, Growing Degree Days concept for growth duration and yield prediction

Week 3: Introduction to crop modeling and simulation, Decision support system (DSS), Types of crop model, Experiment and data requirement in crop model

Week 4: Crop simulation: Terminologies, Simulation approach, Objectives in modeling and simulation

Week 5: Concepts of crop modeling: Compartment model symbols, State variables working principle, Crop systems model for different production situations

Week 6: Potential production simulation: Input factors, duration and growth rate simulation, Yield formation

Week 7: DSSAT model: Introduction, application, crops involved, Modules, Biomass yield simulation in CERES model

Week 8: File system of DSSAT: Input file, File naming, Input data for model simulation, statistical technique for calibration and validation

Week 9: Application of models as risk management tools, Uncertainty and risk analysis, Climate Risk management (CRM), Support for crop insurance scheme

Week 10: Hands on DSSAT: Genotype coefficient estimation in CERES and other models, experimental data inputs, soil data inputs, weather data inputs, management data inputs

Week 11: Hands on Exercises: Evaluation of production management inputs (water, nutrients, soil, weather, etc.) and discussion of the results

Week 12: Group assignment presentation and discussion (Focus: Why crop modeling, Yield response, technology recommendation, CRM tools, etc.)

Books and references

Books:
  • Agricultural systems modeling and simulation by Robert M. Pert and R. Bruce Curry (editors), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York.
  • Systems approach for sustainable agricultural development: Understanding options for agricultural production by G. Y. Tsuji, G. Hoogenboom, and P. K. Thornton (editors), Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
Journal:
  • Jones, J.W., Hoogenboom, G., Porter, C.H., Boote, K.J., Batchelor, W.D., Hunt, L.A., Wilkens, P.W., Singh, U., Gijsman, A.J. and Ritchie, J.T., 2003. The DSSAT cropping system model. European journal of agronomy, 18(3-4), pp.235-265.
Whisler, F.D., Acock, B., Baker, D.N., Fye, R.E., Hodges, H.F., Lambert, J.R., Lemmon, H.E., McKinion, J.M. and Reddy, V.R., 1986. Crop simulation models in agronomic systems. Advances in agronomy, 40, pp.141-208.

Instructor bio

Prof. Dillip Kumar Swain

IIT Kharagpur
Prof. Dillip Kumar Swain is involved in teaching and research activities of the Institute, since his joining in the year 2006. Prof. Swain completed his Doctoral Degree from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, which received the Fertilizer Association of India Silver Jubilee Award in 2003 for the outstanding doctoral research in Fertilizer Usage. Before joining this Institute, Prof. Swain worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow at the United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan, availing Japan Society for the Promotion Science Fellowship. Prof. Swain teaches the subjects: Systems Approach in Agriculture, Soil-Plant-Water Relationships, Crop Production Systems, Organic Food Chain Management, Agricultural Systems Modeling, and Management and Productivity for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Agricultural and Food Engineering. The research areas of Prof. Swain are Climate Change Adaptations/Mitigations for Crop Production, Organic Farming and Sustainable Agricultural Production, and Crop Modeling and Simulation. He is working on assessment of climate change impacts on food grain production of India and evaluation of adaptations through environmental controlled experiment and simulation analysis. Prof. Swain is actively involved in outreach activities through dissemination of weather-based agro-advisory to farmers for planning agricultural operations and demonstration of food production technologies in farmers’ field.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: April 19, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kharagpur .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team
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