Australia’s Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) recently released a new crop modelling tool that can assist cotton producers estimate potential yield throughout the growing season. Nicknamed 'BARRY' (Biometric Agronomy for Realising Representative Yield), the tool provides a snapshot of metrics at the key growth stages of first flower, cut-out, flowering progression and end of season, taking into account region, climate, production type and variety.
BARRY has been developed in partnership with the Australian government’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), utilising the extensive agronomic database collected from CSD's Ambassador Network and Variety Trial programmes and CSIRO's machine learning algorithms to estimate potential yield with reliable accuracy.Australia's Cotton Seed Distributors' new crop modelling tool can assist cotton producers estimate potential yield throughout the growing season. Nicknamed 'BARRY', it provides a snapshot of metrics at the key growth stages of first flower, cut-out, flowering progression and end of season, taking into account region, climate, production type and variety.#
Last cotton season, CSD partnered with a number of growers to conduct field trial tests to evaluate the accuracy of the programme. BARRY can provide a better understanding of crop potential, allowing growers to make management decisions with confidence, Stewart Brotherton, CSD extension and development agronomist for Central Queensland was quoted as saying by Australian media reports.
BARRY takes into account the stage of the crop and the seasonal conditions in real time, providing valuable data for a grower or consultant to make management decisions, if required, Brotherton said.
"For example, if the flowering progression snapshot suggests a lower yield prediction than the grower is aiming for, they can change their management of the crop to rectify or control the outcome. Alternatively, the first flower snapshot may show that the crop has good yield potential, giving the grower confidence in their decisions as the season progresses," he added.
The technology behind BARRY also enables a grower or consultant to assess (in real time) the yield prediction for the practices they have implemented, and over time build data on the outcomes of various scenarios.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)
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