The Iso-Group Concept as a Tool for Optimizing Crop Production at Farm Level

Abstract

Yield and quality of agricultural crops are influenced by a large number of factors. Some of these are inherent to the field on which the crop is grown. They define the intrinsic capacity of a field and cannot or hardly be modified by man. The so-called management factors can be adjusted or influenced as required for optimum production. In the present concept, the maximum attainable yield is considered to be the highest observed yield within a group of fields with comparable intrinsic value, further called iso-group. The grouping (positioning step) is based on a set of permanent characteristics determined mainly by the physical environment. Each unique combination of these characteristics, established by