AgroDecisor EFC: First Android™ app decision support tool for timing fungicide applications for management of late-season soybean diseases

• Published in: Computers and electronics in agriculture Vol. 144; pp. 310 - 313
• Main Authors: Carmona, Marcelo A., Sautua, Francisco J., Pérez-Hernández, Oscar, Mandolesi, Juan I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Cercospora kikuchii; Crop diseases; Crop diseases management; Epidemics; Fungicide decision support app; Fungicides; Late-season soybean diseases; Pesticides; Risk analysis; Septoria glycines; Smartphones; Software; Soybeans; Uncertainty analysis; Weather forecasting; Late-season soybean diseases; Septoria glycines; Fungicide decision support app; Cercospora kikuchii; Crop diseases management
• ISSN: 0168-1699; 1872-7107
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compag.2017.11.028

•An android™ app for late-season soybean diseases (LSD) management has been developed.•The AgroDecisor EFC app has been validated in Argentina.•The app calculates the probability of economic return of a fungicide application.•Probability is based on information related to LSD epidemiology provided by the user.•The app can help users improve LSD management efficiency in soybean crops. A current problem in the chemical control of late-season soybean diseases (LSD) is the lack of scientific guidelines to determine whether or not a fungicide application is needed, and if needed, to further determine a better fungicide application timing. To help in that decision process, Carmona et al. developed a scoring system (SS) based on weather, disease pressure, and other factors that are useful in estimating the probability of expected net return to fungicide treatment. Based on the SS, we developed an Android™ app named AgroDecisor EFC. In the app, the factors from which the SS stems are presented to users for them to quickly select available options to obtain a guiding recommendation on whether or not to apply a fungicide within the R3-R5 soybean growth stages. Scoring greater than 33 indicates a higher probability of obtaining a positive yield response, whereas scoring below 23 indicates no expected response and thus no need for fungicide applications. Intermediate values indicate that the application of fungicides would produce uncertain results thus detailed analysis of risk factors would be required. The app also provides a weather prediction system for the location where the device is located (according to the GPS receiver). The AgroDecisor EFC can help farmers and crop consultants assess the risk of LSD epidemics as well as yield and economic response from foliar fungicide applications. The AgroDecisor EFC smartphone/tablet application will be available in the near future and can be downloaded at no cost from the Google Play™ website (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mapplics.sistemadedecision.soja&hl=en) to any phone that has the Android™ system.