BBCH-scale
Encyclopedia
The BBCH-scale is a scale used to identify the phenological
development stages of a plant. A series of BBCH-scales have been developed for a range of crop
species. Phenological development stages of plants are used in a number of scientific disciplines (crop physiology
, phytopathology
, entomology
and plant breeding
) and in the agriculture industry (timing of pesticide application, fertization, agricultural insurance). The BBCH-scale uses a decimal code system, which is divided into principal and secondary growth stages, and is based on the cereal code system (Zadoks scale
) developed by Zadoks
Officially, the abbreviation BBCH derives from Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry. Unofficially, the abbreviation is said to represent the four agrichemical companies (Bayer, BASF, Ciba-Geigy and Hoechst) that sponsored the initial development of the system.
Phenology
Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate...
development stages of a plant. A series of BBCH-scales have been developed for a range of crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
species. Phenological development stages of plants are used in a number of scientific disciplines (crop physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
, phytopathology
Phytopathology
Plant pathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens and environmental conditions . Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes and parasitic plants...
, entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and plant breeding
Plant breeding
Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular...
) and in the agriculture industry (timing of pesticide application, fertization, agricultural insurance). The BBCH-scale uses a decimal code system, which is divided into principal and secondary growth stages, and is based on the cereal code system (Zadoks scale
Zadoks scale
The Zadoks scale is a cereal development scale proposed by the Dutch phytopathologist Jan C. Zadoks that is widely used in cereal research and agriculture....
) developed by Zadoks
Officially, the abbreviation BBCH derives from Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry. Unofficially, the abbreviation is said to represent the four agrichemical companies (Bayer, BASF, Ciba-Geigy and Hoechst) that sponsored the initial development of the system.
See also
BBCH scales for plants or plant groups:External links
- A downloadable version of the BBCH scales