- Author: Michael D Cahn
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have specific questions about CropManage that are not answered in the help section, then check if a similar question has been answered below. If you still cannot find a satisfactory answer to your CropManage question, please send your inquiries to mdcahn@ucanr.edu.
Updated 9/23/2014
Administrative
I am having trouble logging on, what should I do?
If you are experiencing problems logging into CropManage, it could be related to the settings on your browser. Here are a few steps that you may help narrow down the cause of your problem
- Make sure that you clicked on the link in the email that was sent to you the first time that you set up your CropManage userid. This is a required procedure to verify that you are an actual person. If you do not click on the link, the email address (userid) will not be validated.
- Try logging on to CropManage using a different browser. Take care to enter the exact username and password information. If you are successful in logging on then the problem is probably linked to your browser settings.
- Make sure that “cookies” are enabled in your browser. CropManage requires that cookies are enabled for login.
- Choose the option to “clear cookies” so that the wrong password or username is not automatically entered into CropManage each time that you logon.
- If you still cannot logon after following all of the above steps, then contact the web administrator.
What should I do if I forget my password or username?
Your username is the same as your email address and cannot be changed once registered in CropManage. If you forget your password, select “forgot password” below the login button. A form with your email address, which should be the same as your username, should be displayed. If no address is displayed, then enter the email address where you want to receive the temporary password and click on the button entitled “Receive email to access CropManage website.” After receiving and opening the email from CropManage, click on the hyperlink, which should automatically log you in to CropManage. Once logged on, immediately select “Edit Profile” and change your temporary password to your preferred password. If you follow these procedures and cannot get access into CropManage, then send an email requesting an assigned password to mdcahn@ucanr.edu.
Can someone besides the ranch owner change the ranch information (CIMIS station, fertilizer list, well nitrate)?
Only the ranch owner can change ranch information in CropManage. You will need to communicate with the"virtual" ranch owner to request changes to the ranch.
Ranch
How do I review plantings (crops) from the previous year?
Select the “view all plantings” button at the bottom of the planting summary page
How do I export data from a ranch or specific planting?
Choose the “export data” button at the bottom of the planting summary page. Then select “Export ranch and planting data.” The data for each planting will be exported in an excel file.
Plantings
How is the nitrate in well water used in cropmanage?
CropManage currently does not account for nitrate in well water when calculating the nitrogen fertilizer recommendation. We are planning to add this feature in the near future.
Can I change the rainfall data for an individual planting?
Yes; Select the “view data” button underneath the irrigation table and then select “view rainfall data.” Rainfall data for the planting is displayed in monthly increments. Scroll left or right to the month of interest. The first column displays the rainfall values currently used for the planting. These values can be edited. Do not forget to select “update rainfall” at the bottom of the page to save the new values. The columns to the right display the rainfall data for CIMIS stations associated with the ranch. Cells highlighted in green indicate the CIMIS rainfall data selected to be used for the ranch.
Soil Samples
Can I add soil samples values for different depths?
You can add soil sample values for the 1 and 2 foot depths. You will first need to enter the value for the 1 foot depth and then add a new sample for the 2 foot depth.
Can I enter sample values for depths different than 1 and 2 feet?
Cropmanage presently does not allow values deeper than 2 feet to be entered, nor allow the depths to be customized to intervals different than 1 foot increments (0 to 6 inches, 6 to 12 inches).
Can I add more than one soil sample for the same day?
Yes; however, CropManage will average the values for the same date and depths for the nitrogen fertilizer recommendation.
Can I add soil analysis values for nutrients other than nitrogen?
Yes; although CropManage was originally design for N management, other nutrient values can be entered into the soil sample summary table. On the “new soil sample” entry sheet, select “show more nutrients” to enter values for soil potassium, phosphorus, and other nutrients.
Fertilizer
The recommended N amount seems wrong; what should I check?
- Check that the “days to the next fertilization event” are accurate. Each new fertilization event has a default value of 10 days that must be modified by the user to reflect the actual fertilizer application interval. A vegetable field that receives 2 sidedress applications may have a fertilizer interval in the range of 12 to 15 days while a field fertigated through the drip system may have an interval of 5 to 7 days.
- Check that the soil nitrate value seems reasonable. If the value is unusually high or low then you may want to resample the soil. Sampling immediately after a nitrogen fertilizer application may result in a high value.
- Check that the maximum N uptake amount for the crop is reasonable. This value can be modified in the planting summary page.
- Check that the start and end dates of the crop are accurate. The N uptake curve for the planting is affected by the planting and end crop dates.
What should the fertilizer application interval be for my last fertilizer application?
The “days to the next fertilization event” should be longer than interval between the final fertilizer date and the end of the crop (harvest). For example, if the last N side-dress application is 3 weeks before harvest, then the interval should be longer than 3 weeks.
Irrigation
The recommended irrigation time seems wrong; what should I check?
- Check that the value for the irrigation system application rate is accurate. Each planting starts with a default value of 0.15 inches per hour that the user must modify for the conditions of the actual planting. A calculator tool is provided on the planting setup page to estimate the application rate of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in units of “inches per hour.”
- Check that the previous irrigation date is entered for the planting. CropManage needs the date to estimate crop water use since the previous irrigation.
- Check that the estimated canopy cover value in the irrigation table reflects conditions in the field. Adjustments of the canopy cover can be made by changing the crop end date or selecting “advanced settings,” and changing the maximum canopy cover value or the fraction of the crop cycle to reach maximum canopy.
- Check that the reference ET value is accurate. Sometimes a reference ET value from spatial Cimis or a specific station is not available or is wrong. CIMIS has quality control measures in place that alerts staff when values are out of range or missing. Staff will update CIMIS reference ET if they identify errors. Selecting “refresh weather data” may reload the correct value. You can also check the average reference ET for the period between the last and next irrigation dates directly on the CIMIS website.