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Monitoring the nutrient status of a crop by soil and tissue analysis is an important tool in maximizing yields and avoiding nutrient deficiencies or toxicities. A nutritional management system is presented that uses a computer database to compile periodic soil and leaf tissue analyses to assist in the development of rational fertilizer recommendations for banana and macadamia nut orchards. Database management allows the Extension Agent to organize parameters (soil type, rainfall, elevation, tree age, tree spacing, and previous fertilizer practices) used in nutritional recommendations for individual farms. Graphs depicting nutrient trends over time and comparison of nutrient levels to nutritional standards, present visual illustrations of problems and encourage grower acceptance of fertilizer recommendations. Growers are also able to see graphic responses to application of corrective fertilizers and soil amendments.
Growers and extension personnel need an easy to use method to help diagnose common problems of macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia). The Apple Macintosh®) computer and the software HyperCard® provides one such system. We developed a hypermedia stack (file) that gives users the two options of helping diagnose a problem or providing additional information on a problem and its solution. Twenty-three of the most common problems of macadamia nut in Hawaii are coveted including insects, diseases, nutritional deficiencies, harvest, postharvest handling, herbicide injury, poor flowering, and premature nut drop.
With the first option, the program asks the user on what part of the tree does the problem exist--leaves, flowers, nuts, branches, trunk, roots, or the entire tree. It then displays pictures of symptoms of problems specific to that part of the tree, and the user indicates whether these symptoms are present. The program gives the user additional information on the problem, its cause, conditions conducive to the problem, and possible solutions to resolve the problem. With the second option, i.e., if the user already knows the name of the problem, the additional information and solution are shown immediately. This program provides growers and extension personnel with a simple, quick, computerized tool to diagnose problems and access information and solutions.
Crop logging is a useful tool to keep track of the nutrient status of fruit trees. Crop logging can help extension personnel and farmers diagnose possible nutrient deficiency or toxicity problems and schedule fertilizer practices. A hypertext information system called “Tissue Analysis” was developed for crop logging of macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betch) trees. The system runs on an Apple® Macintosh® computer using the software HyperCard® 2.0. It allows the user to keep track of the tissue analyses records of different farmers and their orchards and serves as a “front end” to link to the user's spreadsheet worksheets and charts of different nutrients. The user can create and maintain a list of farmers whereby a separate file is created for each farmer that then allows the user to create and maintain a list of the farmer's orchards. For each orchard, the user can name buttons according to different nutrients and set up linkages to spreadsheet worksheets and charts to view tissue analyses records. This information system can aid extension agents and farmers in monitoring the nutrient status of different orchards, diagnose possible nutritional problems, and schedule fertilizer applications.