ABSTRACT
Selecting forage crops adapted to the climatic and edaphic conditions of specific locations is essential for economic sustainability and environmental protection. This is particularly true for large countries and regions with diverse climates and soils and intended uses. It is also important for deciding what could be grown instead of what has been grown in areas undergoing substantial changes. Better matching of plants to locations would increase economic returns and reduce environmental hazards associated with suboptimal performance. Historically, deciding what plant to grow in an area was based on tradition or adaptation zones created from qualitative measurements and generalizations. They were not site specific and did not consider more than a few factors, usually annual temperature and precipitation. Currently, species selection could be more precise and accurate because the technology is available but remains difficult to apply due to the absence of user-friendly computer-based selection tools. Climate and soil geographical information system (GIS) layers, matched with a matrix of forage characteristics wrapped in an easy-to-use tool would greatly improve the selection process. GIS-based climate and soils maps are being developed and reviewed. A matrix of species characteristics is being developed for the major forage crops in Australia, People's Republic of China and United States of America. Base layer climate and soils maps and species adaptation maps could be combined on a CD-ROM to help decision-makers match their conditions to suitable forage crop species. World Wide Web segments could provide a source of current information and links to original data sources and supplementary materials. The technology is ripe, but integration of various components is now needed. The future holds the promise of many more improvements for putting each plant in the best location.
