Flowering calculator
This program calculates the flowering time, according to the date of sowing, for wheat and other crop varieties.
- Who this tool is for
- Questions this tool answers
- What this tool does
- Inputs
- Outputs
- Reliability
- History
- Support available
- Where to get it
- Cost
Read about our selection process for including tools on Climate Kelpie
Who this tool is for
Grain (wheat, barley, canola, lupin, chickpea and faba bean) growers in southern Australia.
Questions this tool answers
If I sow variety Z on date X:
- when will my crop flower?
- what is the risk of my crop being affected by frost?
- what is the risk of my crop being affected by high temperatures during flowering and grain fill?
What this tool does
Flowering Calculator gives you information about:
- flowering time based on your sowing date
- frost risk
- the probability of getting the right temperatures required for pod set
- the probability of high temperature events occurring during pod development
Inputs
You need to supply local temperature data in a text file.
Outputs
Flowering Calculator gives you:
- graphs of the probable flowering window, highlighting likely frost, temperature and flowering events
- probabilities of temperature events and frost events occurring
Reliability
Flowering Calculator works for generic early-, mid- and late-season crop varieties but is not up to date with new varieties.
It is mostly set up for Western Australian varieties and growing conditions, but has a limited set of varieties and growing conditions for other states.
It is not reliable in regions where there has been a significant shift in the likelihood of extremes of frost and heat stress occurring.
History
Flowering Calculator was developed by David Tennant at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Support available
Contact Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Email: Ian Foster
Phone: 08 9441 8109
There is also an extensive help menu available within the program.
Where to get it
Flowering Calculator is available on CD.
Contact Ian Foster, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Email: Ian Foster
Phone: 08 9441 8109
Cost
There is a one-off fee for the CD.