Management of rice production systems to increase productivity

The Nutrient Management Support System (NuMaSS)
The NuMaSS software was developed by scientists from Cornell
University, University of Hawaii, North Carolina State University, and Texas
A&M University to improve the diagnosis and recommendations for nitrogen,
phosphorus, and soil acidity problems, especially for tropical regions. It
enables soil scientists to access, evaluate and transfer nutrient management
information from a global database on cereals, legumes, and root and tubers.
The NuMaSS software provides a quick and cost‐effective means of
diagnosing, predicting, and responding to local soil fertility management
needs of farmers globally. It was financed primarily by United States
Agriculture and International Development (USAID).
NuMaSS software runs under Microsoft windows operating systems
and requires at least 32MB of RAM and 60MB of available hard‐disk space. A
CD‐ROM is required to download the software. Recommendation may be
printed with a printer or stored in the program.
A copy of the NuMaSS software can be obtained from Dr. Jot Smyth,
NC State University, Soils Department, Box 7619, Raleigh, NC 27695 (email:
umass@ncsu.edu). It can also be downloaded from the internet at:
http://intdss.soil.ncsu.edu/
The NuMaSS software is a synthesis of five distinct programmatic
sections ‐ Geography, Diagnosis, Prediction, Economic Analysis, and Results ‐ each
differentiated by a tab. Information is inputted through the use of input
boxes, though not all input boxes need information for NuMaSS to work. The
input information needed for the integrated system to run is dependant on the
information needed by the individual modules. Databases have been
constructed that will provide default values in some, but not all, input boxes.
61