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An Overview of Growing Degree Days & Heat Units Application in Crop Production

ABDULQADIR Abubakar Sadiq, GODFREY Erickson Njiddari, PAUL Awumtiya, Musa

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to present an overview application of growing degree days (GDD) and heat unit concept in crop production. The paper presents origin and methods for estimating the concept. Among the various methods Sine curve and mean temperature methods are the most adopted across the globe. GDD & HU concept play a vital role in crop production which includes emergence and germination of seeds, crop growth and development (primary growth) and yield attributes. It can also be applicable in predicting sowing and harvest period, insect and pest infestation and it is use to generate thermal calendar and crop weather calendar. However, despite its adverse applications there are quite element limitations with the concept which include focusing on only temperature as a factor and ignoring other factors such as precipitation, considering temperature and crop growth as linear index which is not possible at all crop stages and TBASE for given crop is not considered through the growing period due to seasonal variation in the temperature. Therefore, intensive research to overcome such limitations is highly imperative and recommendable for sustainable crop production.

Keywords

ApplicationCropGrowing Degree DaysHeat & Production.

References

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