Phenological Modeling and Decision Support Tool (DST) based on Thermal Integrals - CIRAWA Project

Description: This repository contains the Decision Support Tool (DST) developed in Microsoft Excel for the CIRAWA Project (Agroecological strategies for resilient agriculture in West Africa). This tool is designed to assist agricultural technicians, extensionists, and farmers in predicting key phenological stages and optimizing agroecological management in West Africa (specifically calibrated for the Central River and North Bank regions in Gambia). Methodology: The predictive engine is based on the calculation of Accumulated Growing Degree Days (GDD) using the thermo-physiological method (Urbano Terrón, 2015). The thermal accumulation follows the equation: GDD = ∑(Tmean) if Tbase ≤ Tmean ≤ Tmax Thermal accumulation only occurs when the daily mean temperature falls within the specific viable physiological range of each crop, strictly stopping growth during extreme heat stress events. Included Crops & Cardinal Temperatures: ·        Maize (Zea mays): Tbase 10.0°C | Tmax 40.0°C ·        Early Millet (Pennisetum glaucum): Tbase 10.0°C | Tmax 47.0°C ·        Lablab (Lablab purpureus): Tbase 10.0°C | Tmax 35.0°C ·        Bongolom / Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata): Tbase 8.0°C | Tmax 43.0°C ·        Melon (Cucumis melo): Tbase 10.0°C | Tmax 38.0°C ·        Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus): Tbase 15.0°C | Tmax 35.0°C How to use: Users only need to input the intended "Sowing Date" in the main Dashboard. The tool will automatically cross-reference the required thermal integrals with a 30-year climate normal database (1991-2020) to predict the exact dates when the crop will reach critical BBCH stages, providing targeted agroecological actions (e.g., precise fertilization windows, pest bird exclusion, optimal harvest times). Acknowledgments: Developed by ITAGRA.ct. This tool is part of the Horizon Europe CIRAWA project.