The influence of cotton variety in the calibration factor of a cotton yield monitor

A three years study on precision farming in cotton in central Greece showed serious infield variability of yield and soil physical and chemical properties. Yield mapping constitutes the starting and ending point of the whole process chain in a precision farming system. Yield mapping was performed for three consecutive years in the same cotton fields of central Greece in a wide range of cotton varieties and field conditions with a yield monitor installed on a cotton picker. The yield sensors estimate the flow volume of cotton conveyed from the picking units in the basket through air ducts. The main control unit performs the transformation of the estimated cotton volume in cotton weight using a factor named Calibration Coefficient or Factor. Every time the picking conditions change, like going to a different field or change cotton variety, there is the need to pick a whole load basket and make an actual weighing to inform the main unit to adapt the calibration factor to the correct value. After three cotton yield mapping seasons (overall 200ha) it was observed that there is a straight relation of the value of calibration factor with the cotton variety. The present study shows these results that group the values of calibration factor with corresponding cotton varieties. The results would help in the calibration of the monitors.