Simulation of maize (Zea mays) yield by using info crop model under climatic conditions of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A field study was conducted on growing maize during Kharif season of 2013 and 2014 to simulate the grain yield by using InfoCrop model under climatic conditions of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The field experiment comprised of four dates of sowing viz., May 30th, June 10th, June 20th and June 30th and three genotypes viz., Girija, Bajaura Makka and HQPM-1. The study concluded that the simulated Leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, grain yield, days to physiology maturity and vegetative stage matched closely with observed values for all sowing environments. The RMSE value for grain yield was 3.2qha-1 for both the year’s i.e.2013 & 2014. The model performance was somewhere under estimated or overestimated but found within acceptable limits.