BBCH-scale

The BBCH-scale is a scale used to identify the phenological development stages of a plant. A series of BBCH-scales have been developed for a range of crop species. Phenological development stages of plants are used in a number of scientific disciplines (crop physiology, phytopathology, entomology, plant breeding) and in the agriculture industry (timing of pesticide application, fertization, 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 Zadoks et al. (1974).

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Officially, the abbreviation BBCH derives from Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry. Unofficially, the abbreviation is said to represent the four agrichemical companies (Bayer, BASF, Ciba-Geigy and Hoechst) that sponsored the initial development of the system.

A downloadable version [1] of the BBCH Scales, including illustrations, is available from the BBA[2] (Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry)

References

Zadoks, J.C.; T.T. Chang, C.F. Konzak (1974). "A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals.". Weed Research 14: 415-421.