CPSBB conducted a training in statistics for agricultural producers and farmers

CPSBB conducted an educational training on the application of statistical methods in agriculture within the AgroDigiRise project. The main goal of the one-day course was to present how statistics could contribute to the successful agricultural practice and to give some basic statistical principles that could be useful for producers and scientists alike.

The training was held by the molecular biologist of CPSBB, Dr. Emil Vatov, who gained his experience in statistics and agricultural plant production in Germany and who had returned to Bulgaria to develop his scientific career at CPSBB.

The presentation of Dr. Vatov was based on the results from agricultural experiments performed at the University of Hohenheim and LUFA Speyer. First, he introduced the participants to some of the basic concepts for collecting and analyzing data, including the usage of mean, variance, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean. He also presented a basic method for formal statistical analysis that gives value to the question: what is the chance that the trend I am observing in my field is random, or is it more likely that some objective causes are at hand, which could be analyzed and acted upon.

Dr. Vatov showcased two experiments in which he had participated. The focus was on the location and specifics of the test fields, experimental designs that accommodate for these specifics, data collection and analysis. Both experiments were related to the use of different types of organic fertilizers in agriculture and the assessment of the yield as a result of fertilization. He showed graphical evaluation of the experimental data and taught the audience how to produce such graphics and statistical analyses via Excel.

The final part of the training course presented initial steps for analysis using commonly available software.

“Yield, income, expenses, fuel, the amount of fertilizers and products for plant protection – they all have a strictly expressed numerical dimension. Using different statistical methods gives the opportunity to analyze the reasons for specific results in agriculture. “Is this variety better than the variety I have used so far”, “Is this fertilizer better than the fertilizer  I have used so far”, “Is it worth buying a more expensive fertilizer and will it pay for itself”, “Is my yield decreasing with each passing year because there are not enough nutrients in the soil”, etc – all these questions could be rationally answered with statistical methods and appropriate testing. Thus, a farmer arms himself with a set of tools that allow him to make comparisons, analyze the results and, based on the answers, make informed decisions to improve his production”, concluded Dr. Vatov at the end of his lecture.