The presence of a crop is depicted in the crop row of the crop rotation table using an icon that illustrates its growth profile. The bar above the crop image indicates the proportion of growth that has been obtained.
Information entered into this dialog and elsewhere in OverseerFM is used to estimate the crop’s growth curve. This curve can be modified either by specifying the time at which the crop is harvested and/or when the crop reaches maturity at which time nutrient uptake ceases..
Table 1: Specifying crop details
| Primary Input | Secondary Input | Definition |
| Add Crop |
This initiates cultivation and sowing and starts the crop’s growth. Ensure that actual sowing month is entered - if this is in the previous year to Year 1 then use the "Prior Land Use option" to record this crop. Entering this event when a previous crop exists, i.e. if harvest, cultivation or final defoliation has not occurred earlier, will stop the previous crop’s Consequently non-harvested tops and roots become residues in the month the new crop is sown. A crop grows according to a typical relationship between stage of growth and accumulated thermal degree days, with the growth period extended if the month the crop ends or is harvested two months following crop |
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| Category & Crop type |
Selecting a crop category from the dropdown list determines the list of crop options available in the dropdown list under crop type |
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| Product yield | Enter the crop yield as t DM/ha. For most crops a 'typical' yield for a mature crop is provided below the data entry box for guidance. | |
| Cultivation practice at sowing |
From the drop-down list box select the best option out of minimum till, direct drilled or conventional.
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| Residual Management Method |
This dialogue box appears only for crop options that are likely to leave a residue in the paddock. From the drop-down list box select an option:
Note that multiple options such as baling then burning or grazing then burning are not supported. It is recommended that the option which removed the greatest amount of the residue be selected. |
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| End Crop | Use this option to specify the year and the month the crop ends. The growth of the existing crop is stopped at the end of the month and non-harvested tops and roots become residues but no product is removed. This option represents management options such as spraying or crop pulling. Using this option may also extend the crop growth period if specified within two months following crop maturity, a period during which there is no nutrient uptake. Use this option with caution. | |
| Add harvest |
Use this option to specify the year and the month the crop is harvested. The existing crop growth is stopped at the end of the month. However, if a second activity i.e. planting is added to a month, the model then assumes that harvest took place at the start of the month. Product is exported from the farm. |
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| Cultivate | Specify only when cultivation occurs other than during a month when a crop is sown. Cultivation occurs at the beginning of the month at which time the growth of any existing crop is stopped. This should only be used when the block is cultivated when not sowing a crop. | |
| Defoliation |
The standing crop is removed but crop re-growth occurs. This option is limited to crops such as winter oats and wheat, seed crops, cut and carry of permanent pasture, forages, and fodder crops. For fodder crops, subsequent months can be selected to represent grazing over extended periods. Using the dialog box Method of defoliation, i.e. either cut and carried or grazed in situ, can be selected and Final harvest checked to indicate the last defoliation event of the crop at which time regrowth ceases. |