Dr Saeedeh Taghadomi Saberi1
1Plant Industries, Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Northern Territory Government, Berrimah, Darwin City, Australia
Biography:
Dr. Saeedeh Taghadomi-Saberi is a Research Scientist at the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, specializing in data analysis and predictive modelling for agricultural applications. With over eight years of experience, her expertise contributes to advancements in AgTech. Holding a PhD in Biosystems Engineering, Saeedeh’s notable work in the field led to her recognition under the Global Talent Independent Program. She has authored more than 10 publications in peer-reviewed journals, emphasizing her dedication to research and innovation. Currently, Dr. Saberi is focussed on developing decision aid tools to enhance risk management and informed decision-making in agricultural supply chains.
Abstract:
This study, integral to the ‘Addressing the fundamentals of cropping-systems that deliver sustainable growth of agriculture sector in the Northern Territory' project, aims to explain the determinants of cotton yield sustainability in the region. Utilizing data collected over a single season (2023) from the Douglas Daly and Katherine regions, encompassing both replicated trials on research farms and commercial properties, this study employs rigorous data pre-processing, including consolidation, cleaning, and transformation, to lay the groundwork for comprehensive analysis. Through Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), we uncovered yield consistency across the Douglas Daly sites, save for an outlier property that needs further investigations. Employing correlation analysis, we identified a moderate linkage between soil parameters, such as nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and cotton yield, and higher influence of cover crop biomass. Our findings reveal a nitrogen deficiency and suboptimal phosphorus levels across the majority of sites, notwithstanding generally acceptable conductivity, salinity, and pH levels, albeit with some soil acidity and cation concentration variations.
A pivotal recommendation from this study is the augmented future data collection strategy, advocating for the integration of temperature and humidity metrics alongside soil physical properties to refine model precision. This study not only sheds light on the intricate dynamics influencing cotton yield but also sets a precedent for future research aimed at optimizing crop production within the Northern Territory and similar agricultural landscapes, thereby contributing to the broader objectives of sustainable agriculture.