The Yield Enhancement Network has been running since 2013, collecting data from farmers and industry on crop yields, soil info, field history, weather, agronomic inputs, crop development, yield components, nitrogen uptake, grain characteristics and grain nutrient composition, for benchmarking and to better understand what drives variation in crop performance. Analysis of the dataset allows insights to be drawn about factors associated with crop performance. From an early stage in the Cereal YEN we have consistently found a positive association between PGR use (number of applications) and grain yield. The YEN database contains >1000 entries with records of PGR products, timings and rates used from more than half of entries in the form of free text written by the farmer or advisor. This information can potentially be used to better understand any associations between PGRs and crop performance. To be statistically analysable this information must be categorised in a consistent manner to describe PGR active ingredient and growth stage of the application.
This project converts the information we have on PGR applications in the YEN into analysable data, and then explores associations between PGR use and crop yield, height, ears per m2 and other physiological traits related to yield. There are some records of lodging provided in the YEN database as free text and this study will assess whether there are enough records to be analysable.
Download the full report below.
