Statistical Data Analysis Tools: Software Prospects for Crop Productivity

Abstract

In agriculture research, the role of statistical analysis is quite predominant. Knowledge of statistics play a pivotal role for recommendation of specific farming system to be adopted, choice of tree/crop species, crop spacing, and other components of a farming system. This leads to the problem of choosing a tool for data analysis and subsequent activities that require statistical content. Spread sheet is one the oldest and command tool used to explain the statistical peculiarities in the research data. Yet, Excel is not a full-fledged statistical tool. Besides this basic tool, other tools are also available based on different languages to perform statistical functions. However, these language-based packages need extensive learning and training. The user must know about programming before they can be put into good use. Of course, several commercial statistics packages like SAS, SPSS, SYSTAT, STATA, and MINITAB, etc. with graphical user interface (GUI) allow command line input and programming for analysis. However, such softwares are expensive and in many cases beyond the means of the individual users. But still a number of programs have statistical functionality; however before deciding upon a statistical software, one should be clear about the requirements of statistical software and it applicability with the data available.