• Turner, J. D.
• Walters, K.
• Northing, P.
• Naylor, D.
• Ellerton, D.
• L., Fitt B. D.
• Evans, Neal
• Gladders, P.
• Sutherland, Kg
• Campbell, S.
• Hall, B.
• Selley, Andrew

Abstract

Pests and diseases of winter oilseed rape are estimated to cause losses of up to £80 million per annum in the UK. Pesticides are widely used to control them, but treatments are not always used effectively. Decision-making is complex for farmers because of the large seasonal and regional variation in the occurrence of pests and diseases. These issues have been addressed through a project<br/>to develop a decision support system known as PASSWORD. This was initiated in October 2000 and continues with a model testing phase up to September 2005. The PASSWORD project has combined a decision support system for the major invertebrate pests of oilseed rape (known as DORIS) developed by CSL, York, with new disease components for the most important diseases, phoma stem canker (Leptosphaeria maculans) and light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae). Data generated from pest and disease surveys, biological studies and field experiments have been used to develop disease forecasts at the regional level and models for disease development and yield loss at the crop level. During the<br/>growing season, daily weather data and current crop information are required to run the models and to determine what action is required. The models were developed through close consultation with industry representatives at every stage of DSS construction and are being validated using a range of techniques.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• phase
• experiment