System and method for managing and predicting crop performance

US8671006B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited · NZ

Inventors

• Robert Francis Zyskowski · Christchurch, NZ
• Peter Jamieson · Newcastle, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 9, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 11, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 14, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/02
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a method of managing fertilizer and irrigation inputs for a crop, the method comprising obtaining management data for the crop, the management data including a planting date for the crop; obtaining weather data representative of the geographic area of the crop; obtaining soil description data representative of the geographic area of the crop; calculating an emergence date at least partly from the planting date; calculating a plurality of nitrogen deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the soil description data, the nitrogen deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; calculating a plurality of water deficit values at least partly from the emergence date and the weather data, the water deficit values associated with respective dates each later than the emergence date; and presenting on a display a schedule of recommended nitrogen application values, irrigation values and application dates, the schedule calculated at least partly from the nitrogen deficit values and the water deficit values.