FieldPro Overview
FieldPro allows easy field trial design, data entry and
reporting. It is flexible and adaptable to the preferences of individual
researchers, and results in data that is standardized and allows summary
of trials from many individuals. FieldPro minimizes data entry time by
storing and retrieving information that stays the same over many trials
(information about soil, equipment), and by using selection lists with
standardized codes for crops, weeds, pesticides, and other parameters.
FieldPro follows a protocol to trial system. A protocol
is the template of an experiment, and contains objectives, treatment lists,
statistical design, and other information that will be common even if
the experiment is conducted at many locations. FieldPro is extremely flexible
and allows many experimental designs, high numbers of treatments, replications,
and subsamples. Protocols are distributed to locations where the experiment
will be conducted.
A trial is created from a protocol, and contains the
information gathered when the protocol is conducted at an individual location.
Several trials may be generated from one protocol. An application
describes the point in time when treatments were applied: the date, weather,
pest and crop stages, etc. Evaluations are the data generated
by the treatments, for example control ratings. An evaluation consists
of two parts; the actual data, and a header
which stores information about an evaluation; the date, what was evaluated,
the symptom, etc. FieldPro generates many reports including spray
sheets/labels, which calculate the amount of product to mix for
the treatments; plot signs for tours; plot maps; and a wide range of summary
reports.
A database holds protocols and trials in a folder or
logical grouping. You might create a database to hold all protocols, trials,
and weather information for each year. Someone doing a summary may create
a database with trials from many years and many locations. Protocols and
trials are easily distributed by exporting and importing
them between FieldPro databases.
Dictionaries are used to make data entry easy, and to
insure that FieldPro information is standardized. Each person using FieldPro
in an organization uses the same dictionaries. They contain codes for
pesticides, crops, pests, soil types, and many other parameters. When
a protocol treatment list is being edited, the pesticide dictionary makes
it easy to view pesticides by active ingredient or by product name. When
trial reports produced by many researchers are summarized, they will all
list velvetleaf as ABUTH, not ABUTH, ABUTH, or vleaf.
Dictionaries also allow FieldPro to translate units.
One researcher might write a protocol with treatment rates expressed in
kilograms per hectare while another researcher using/viewing that same
data will see the rates converted to pounds per acre if that is his user
default setting. However, the second researcher can print the treatment
lists with the rates in their original units if he wishes.
Defaults are sets for standard information that are
stored and retrieved as needed to speed up data entry. All of the information
about a sprayer that will be used for several trials can be stored in
a user default: number of nozzles, pressure, gallons per acre, etc. Rather
than enter the sprayer information into all of the FieldPro trials individually,
the user default for the sprayer is simply recalled into each trial by
selecting the name given by the user to the sprayer setup. The same process
can be done for evaluation headers, cooperator/farm sites, report setups,
weather information, and many other items.
 |
Weather information for a trial is
stored in a weather site. If several trials are conducted in close
proximity, the information from one weather site is shared in the
reports for all of the trials as does not have to be entered into
each trial individually. The weather data might come from an on-site
weather station, the nearest NOAA station, or another source. You
may create as many weather sites as you need. |
FieldPro has many powerful data handling features. Standard statistical
designs are supported: randomized complete block, split
block, Latin square, etc. Data averages, F test, ANOVA tables, LSD, standard
deviation, and coefficient of variance are automatically calculated. Missing
data can be tagged and handled statistically. Calculations can be performed
on multiple columns of data. Data can be exported to Excel spreadsheets,
ASCII text files, and ACPA EDE / Canadian ECW format. Data from hand held
data recorders can be uploaded. Data can be imported from EDE files, from
earlier versions of PDMP (Pesticide Data Management Program) and PRM formats
by use of EDE files. Following are lists of FieldPro features in each
area of the program.
Protocol Features
Create, Edit,
Copy, Delete, Output Protocols
Single and multiple
batch reports
Print protocol
master books
Estimation of chemical
requirements for each or multiple locationsÒñ4nt>
Manpower/cost reports
by territory, protocol, or project manager
Trial Features
Create trials
from Protocol or another trial
Single and multi-trial
reporting
Field project scheduling
(planned application and evaluation)
All data validated
and stored in standard units
Displayed units
based on user preference
User definable
site defaults (i.e., cooperator/address, soil info, etc.)
Calculation of
estimated chemical needs
Unlimited length
for comment fields
Full statistical
support for various experimental designs
Ability to average
subsample data
All raw data maintained
Full support of
all multiple treatment types including pesticide
Weather data tracked
by site rather than by each trial
Store preset trial
randomizations which can be used for automated multi-boom sprayers,
etc.
Statistical Features
Ability to tag
missing data, missing data calculation by statistical design
Automatic calculations
of individual and average data, F test, ANOVA Tables, LSD, Standard
deviation, Coefficient of Variance
Ability to drop an entire Rep, Block, or Treatment from a trial or from
an individual evaluation header (with automatic statistical recalculation)
| Calculation methods available in FieldPro:
Abbott % Relative to control
Agronomic note (1-10) No Calc Schneider-Orelli
Efficacy (Arcsine calculation) Sun-Shephard
Efficacy (no calculation)
Townsend-Heuberger plus Abbott
Henderson-Tilton -- Requires precounts
User Defined and Multi column calculations |
Experimental Designs Available Fully Supported
by FieldPro:
Randomized Complete Block Factorial
Latin Square Split Plot
Split Block Strip Test
Strip Plot Completely Random
|
System Features
System support
in Windows 95/98 and NT
Network / multi-user
Option available
Reports may be
output to screen, file, or printer
Data is in a format
which may be exported to other formats (spreadsheet, text, EDE/ECW)
Multiple levels
of access security for databases, protocols and trials
Active data dictionary
-- for ease of program maintenance and documentation with Pop-up validation
Data stored in
a standardized format
International date
formats supported with century included
Utilities for metric
conversions, calibration, Julian date, International date formats, etc.
Support for hand
held data entry using FPDirect
Support for on-site
weather stations or input data from other weather sources
Full text editors
capabilities in all comment areas including word wrap, cut/paste, merge,
and spell checking
Validation on all
fields at entry with data dictionary
Built-in database
management with full data security, ability to archive at the trial,
protocol or database level
Full color manual
and online help
Dictionary Features
Over 27,000 Genus
and species of plants, insects and diseases conforming to industry and
international standards, Pest Stage Codes based on international BBCH/Zedok
standard
Pesticide formulation
dictionary with common and trade names for approximately 3000 registered
products including pre-mixtures
Country and States
down to county level in the United States
Application method
and equipment codes based on Agricultural Crop Protection Association
Standards
Evaluation method
codes based on ACPA, Standardized Agricultural Research Territory Standard
Automatic comprehensive
unit dictionaries with automatic conversion facility
User Definable Defaults
Each user can select his/her own system defaults. This allows data/information
to be recorded in one user’s preferred standard units and displayed
or reported in another user’s familiar units.
The user can also input commonly-used information that can be recalled
as needed. Examples are:
Notes, comments,
letters
Sprayer setups
and codes, Calibration Validation: Stores sprayer setups; stores past
calibrations; validates speed flow and vol./area; print GLP calibration
certification
Cooperator and
site information
Weather sites
Default codes by
grouping, as well as previously mentioned units of measurement