One of the best ways to connect science to practice is through on-farm research. On-farm research can help farmers make informed decisions about how to efficiently use their resources (like fertilizer and seed) to grow high-yielding, high-quality crops. However, traditional research designs like replicated strip trials can be difficult to implement because of the time, equipment and labor required during the busy growing season. Consequently, farmers can now use the Single-strip Spatial Evaluation Approach (SSEA) for on-farm research because of its simple, straightforward approach that fits within normal farm operations.
The widespread use of yield monitors during corn grain and silage harvest has made SSEA trials possible for New York corn growers. These trials are used to analyze the impact of treatment on a single strip of a field (above, left), rather than several strips (above, right). Compared to replicated strip trials, the treatment tested during a SSEA trial gets implemented in a much smaller area of a field, minimizing disruption to everyday farm operations.
Previously, it was necessary for Cornell CALS’ Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) staff to support SSEA analyses by performing the data analysis after receiving all the necessary information from the farmers or farm advisors.
Wouldn’t it be great if farmers and crop advisors had access to a tool that could help streamline on-farm SSEA research trials even further? Now, they do.
Recently, a publication in the Agronomy Journal on December 16 launched a web-based tool developed by NMSP: the SSEA tool. The SSEA tool automates SSEA trial analyses, providing visual results and downloadable reports—bringing the science to the fingertips of New York farmers and crop advisors, and breaking barriers when it comes to accessing these resources.
Source : cornell.edu