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Volume 6
Advances in Crop Science and Technology
ISSN: 2329-8863
Agri World 2018
March 05-07, 2018
Page 21
Notes:
conference
series
.com
11
th
World Congress on
March 05-07, 2018 | Paris, France
Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture
Jerry Johnson, Adv Crop Sci Tech 2018, Volume 6
DOI: 10.4172/2329-8863-C1-004
Using decision trees for variety selection
C
rop variety trials may consist of 50 entries or more. The main purpose of variety trials is to provide unbiased and reliable
information to producers for making better variety selections. Variety selection is a very important and easily managed
decision for each field every year. Better variety decisions lead to 1-2% increase in yearly yield. Variety trial results are often
presented as a list of varieties in descending order of yield. These tables are deceptive because there is no expected difference
in yield for the top varieties, yet the table leads producers to believe that the top variety is better than a lower ranked variety.
The reasons for the continued use of deceptive variety trial tables are investigated. Wheat variety trials in Colorado USA are
used to illustrate the confusion and ineffectiveness of common reporting practices and how we alleviate ambiguities by the
use of variety selection decision trees and on farm testing of select varieties. A combination of these practices has led to vastly
improved rates of new variety adoption and improved planting of certified seed of superior Colorado State University varieties
in the state in addition to higher yields.
Biography
Jerry Johnson is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. He has
conducted food crop variety trials in Francophone West Africa, the state of Washington USA, and in Colorado USA from 1976 to till date.
Jerry.Johnson@colostate.eduJerry Johnson
Colorado State University, USA