The BBCH-scale is used to identify the phenological development stages of plants.[1] BBCH-scales have been developed for a range of crop species where similar growth stages of each plant are given the same code.
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 (risk assessment of pesticides, timing of pesticide application, fertilization, 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 Jan Zadoks.[2]
The abbreviation BBCH derives from the names of the originally participating stakeholders: "Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie". Allegedly, the abbreviation is said to unofficially represent the four companies that initially sponsored its development; Bayer, BASF, Ciba-Geigy, and Hoechst.[3]
Basic principles[edit]
- The BBCH-scale provides a framework to develop scales for individual crops.
- Similar growth stages of each plant species are given the same BBCH code.
- Each code has a description and important growth stages have additional drawings included.
- The first digit of the scale refers to the principal growth stage.
- The second digit refers to the secondary growth stage which corresponds to an ordinal number or percentage value.
- Post harvest or storage treatment is coded as 99.
- Seed treatment before planting is coded as 00.
Principal growth stages[edit]
- 0: Germination, sprouting, bud development
- 1: Leaf development
- 2: Formation of side shoots, tillering
- 3: Stem elongation or rosette growth, shoot development
- 4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts, bolting
- 5: Inflorescence emergence, heading
- 6: Flowering
- 7: Development of fruit
- 8: Ripening or maturity of fruit and seed
- 9: Senescence, beginning of dormancy
See also[edit]
BBCH-scales for plants or plant groups:
- Bean
- Beet
- Bulb vegetable
- Canola, rapeseed
- Cereals
- Citrus
- Coffee
- Cotton
- Cucurbit
- Currants
- Faba bean
- Grape
- Hop
- Leafy vegetables forming heads
- Leafy vegetables not forming heads
- Maize, corn
- Musaceae
- Olive
- Other brassica vegetables
- Pea
- Peanut
- Pome fruit
- Potato
- Rice
- Root and stem vegetable
- Solaneous fruit
- Stone fruit
- Strawberry
- Sunflower
- Weed
References[edit]
- ^ Meier, U. (2001). "Growth stages of mono- and dicotyledonous plants". BBCH Monograph. doi:10.5073/bbch0515. Archived from the original on 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Zadoks, J.C.; T.T. Chang; C.F. Konzak (1974). "A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals". Weed Research. 14 (6): 415–421. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3180.1974.tb01084.x.
- ^ "E-Notes". E-Notes.
External links[edit]
- A downloadable version of the BBCH scales
- A [1] BBCH for Camellia sinensis