Monitoring heat units or day degrees is akin to having a “temperature speedometer” that proves invaluable for effective crop management. Understanding day degree accumulation is crucial for comprehending crop growth and development, especially as cotton plants follow a relatively predictable pattern. By utilising daily minimum and maximum temperature data, one can anticipate crop development with a degree of reliability.

Facilitating these calculations is the online Day Degree Calculator (DDC), a tool designed to aid growers, agronomists, and industry professionals in determining day degree accumulation and other essential climate metrics pertinent to crop growth and development. Leveraging the extensive SILO database of Australian climate data, the DDC covers numerous locations across the continent, catering to the expanding footprint of the cotton industry.

The DDC incorporates the peer reviewed DD1532 formula developed by CSIRO and the United States Department of Agriculture, with support from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. The goals of this approach are to provide a more accurate estimate of plant development across an expanding cotton growing area in Australia, prevent excessive day degree accumulation—especially during hot periods that may not contribute significantly to plant growth—and eliminate the need to adjust day degree targets for cold shock.

Seasonal Summaries and Downloadable Files

The DDC offers a seasonal comparison table presenting data for the current season, the preceding four seasons, and a 10-year mean for comparative analysis. For deeper insights, users can download a CSV file containing minimum and maximum temperatures, daily and cumulative day degree calculations, and climatic summaries for further analysis or graphing.

The calculator is user-friendly and is compatible with any internet-capable device. Access the calculator at www.csd.net.au/ddc.

While the DDC stands as a robust standalone tool, those seeking superior visual insights should explore CottonTracka®. This platform provides day degree and climatic information, coupled with enhanced visualisations and growth and development tracking when crop observations are included. Moreover, CottonTracka eliminates the need to re-enter locations or dates; users can simply log in, and the platform takes care of the rest.

Tailored for every cotton grower aiming to optimise their crop, CottonTracka® is available to all CSD members. Discover more at www.cottontracka.com.au.