PHYTECH FOR COTTON​
Irrigation management plays a key role in growing cotton. While water stress can results in yield loss and quality reduction, over-irrigation can lead to similar result as well. Phytech plant- based technology provides cotton growers
a tool to optimize their irrigation.
FROM EMERGENCE TO HARVEST
Water stress or over irrigation will have a different effect on cotton at different stages of the season.
EARLY
SEASON1
FLOWERING3
Water
Stress
Insufficient growth, yield loss.
The pollination process is sensitive to water stress, with up to 2.7% yield loss per dayof stress2.
Water stress can lead to short fiber and high micronaire.
Over
Irrigation
Inhibition of boll maturation.
Over irrigation
can lead to low micronaire and quality reduction.
THE PHYTECH SOLUTION
Phytech provides stress prediction and irrigation planning tools.
Phytech identifies yield reducing stress and immediately alerts growers on mobile and web platforms.
Sensors on selected plants continuously measure changes in stem diameter, which are translated into plant stress indications.
Supporting parameters included in the system: irrigation monitoring, climate data and satellite image analysis.
PREDICTION -> PLANNING
Irrigation is often planned days in advance. Therefore, knowing the current plant stress level is not always enough. Phytech developed a patented stress prediction algorithm which, based on hourly plant data, allows stress prediction days in advance. This encourages water saving when no stress is expected for days or allows the necessary time to prepare for a predicted water stress event.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
A cotton stalk shrinks during the day as
a response to lowering water levels. The more
it is stressed, the more it contracts, before replenishing again at night. Phytech’s algorithms utilize this shrink-swell mechanism as a tool to quantify water stress.
GROWTH REGULATION
Growers often spend thousands of dollars on growth regulators on each pivot. Phytech monitors plant growth on a daily basis, allowing growers to follow the effect of Pix application. Using this tool, growers can know when the cotton is about to stop,
which can save valuable money on unnecessary sprays.
After the application of Pix, reduced plant growth rate is observed.
A 2nd application was planned, but Phytech shows cotton is about to stop growing -> application cancelled
A QUESTION OF QUALITY
Over irrigation in cotton may result in a reduction in fiber quality. On the other hand, water stress affects yield and quality.
Phytech helps you find the balance.
ROI (RETURN ON INVESTMENT)
Phytech field results and published research2 put a price tag of
between 0.7 to 2.7% yield loss per day of water stress, depending on the variety and the stage in the season. For this example, we will look at the possible revenue gain from preventing
10 days of water stress during the season, estimating 1% yield
loss per stress day:
Possible yield gain for prevention of 10 stress days
120
ACRE
2.5
BALE/ACRE
X
3.5
$/BALE
X
X
10%
YIELD LOSS PREVENTION
= $9,000
typical parameters
of a Texas cotton field
$/PIVOT
Possible revenue gain
$82.5/AC
Phytech’s service model cost is a fraction of the grower’s savings
MAXIMIZE YIELD
Reach your optimal yield by avoiding stress
SAVE WATER
Use water more efficiently, save up to 40%
REDUCE RISK
Identify problems in real-time to prevent damage