A new agronomy 'App' specifically for the iPhone has just been launched by BASF for the 2011 image expired

In a survey of AICC members conducted in January 2011, 37% of respondents said that they have a Smartphone and 46% plan to have one over the next two years. The Blackberry is the most popular handset followed by the iPhone.

When quizzed about useful Smartphone tools, respondents said that agronomy tools like the Green Area Index (GAI) tool would be very welcome to support their day-to-day field work, particularly during the busy spring period.

Oilseed rape GAI tool on the internet

The BASF oilseed rape GAI tool, hosted at www.totaloilseedcare.co.uk is now considered an industry standard within the rape crop and is being widely used within the UK. It was developed by BASF in conjunction with ADAS, to help growers monitor development of the crop, particularly through the early part of the season. BASFs oilseed rape product manager Will Reyer comments:

“The need for canopy management is still not well appreciated everywhere. It’s about much more than height reduction. The aim is to target an optimum canopy density at flowering and this needs attention early in the season.”

Currently users take a photograph with a digital camera and then upload it to

www.totaloilseedcare.co.uk to achieve the GAI. But there is now a further option.

Launching the mobile version

BASF has launched an App specifically for the Apple iPhone based on the online version of the GAI tool. “Taking this on to the mobile platform is the logical next step for the GAI tool and some of the early feedback we have had is fantastic” says Will.

The functionality on the App is broadly the same as the online version, but with some additional benefits.

These include the possibility to e-mail results as soon as they are obtained, though there is no need for an internet connection for the App to work. Simply run the App whenever needed to achieve the GAI score for your crop.

There is also a GPS mapping function which plots the location of assessments on a google map, built into the App. These can be navigated by the intuitive interface provided on the iPhone.

It’s also possible to process other photographs, either captured by the phone previously, or even sent via e-mail & accessed by the iPhone.

Work conducted by ADAS and BASF has established that crops with a GAI of greater than 1.0 in early March and/or greater than 2.0 in early April will generally give an economic response to the growth regulating fungicide Sunorg Pro (metconazole) even when disease control is not needed.

“We know that fertiliser input needs will also be assessed by the tool and that’s absolutely fine.

But we hope to continue to raise the awareness of what can be achieved with proactive manipulation of the canopy with Sunorg Pro. We’re confident this new App is an ideal way to do this”.