Crop Cutting Experiment & Sample Plot to Yield/Ha
Estimates wheat
Enter your sample plot size and harvested weight to scale it to yield per hectare, adjust to a standard moisture, and read the result in qtl/ha and t/ha.
Estimate field yield
Next: take several random quadrats across the field and average them — a single 10 m² cut scaled to 55.8 qtl/ha can mislead if the spot is unusually good or poor.
The crop-cutting experiment (CCE) is the standard for official yield estimates and crop insurance; always correct fresh weight to a standard moisture basis so harvests are comparable.
Crop cutting experiment — key facts
- Yield/ha
- (weight ÷ plot area) × 10,000
- Adjust
- × (100−actual) ÷ (100−standard)
- 1 quintal
- = 100 kg
- 1 tonne/ha
- = 10 qtl/ha
- Common plot
- 5 m × 5 m quadrat
- Grain standard
- ≈ 14% moisture
- Use
- yield estimation & crop insurance
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
One measured cut, scaled to the whole field
You cannot weigh a whole field, so the crop cutting experiment weighs a small, carefully measured plot and scales it up. Harvest everything inside a marked quadrat, weigh the produce, and the per-hectare yield follows from the simple ratio of plot area to a hectare. Because it measures real harvested grain rather than eyeballing the crop, it is the accepted basis for official yield statistics and for settling crop insurance claims.
This tool returns the fresh yield per hectare, the moisture-adjusted yield, and the figure in quintals and tonnes per hectare, so your result is comparable with standard records. Adjusting to a standard moisture removes the bias of wet versus dry samples. Take several plots across the field, average them, and pair this with the Crop Yield Estimator, Plant Stand Count and Crop Insurance Claim calculators for a complete picture.
Scale a sample
Turn one plot weight into yield per hectare.
Compare fairly
Adjust to a standard moisture.
Back insurance claims
Use the official yield-estimation method.
Report in any unit
Read yield as qtl/ha or t/ha.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a crop cutting experiment?+
A crop cutting experiment (CCE) is a field method where a small, precisely measured sample plot is harvested, the produce is weighed, and the weight is scaled up to a per-hectare yield. It is the standard, accepted basis for official yield estimation and for settling crop insurance claims, because it measures actual harvested produce rather than relying on guesswork.
How is yield per hectare calculated from a sample?+
Yield per hectare = (sample weight ÷ sample plot area) × 10,000 m². For example, 4 kg harvested from a 5 m × 5 m (25 m²) plot scales to (4 ÷ 25) × 10,000 = 1,600 kg/ha. The calculator does this from your plot dimensions and weight, then converts to quintals and tonnes per hectare.
Why adjust yield to a standard moisture?+
Fresh produce carries variable moisture, so two samples can weigh differently just from how wet they are. Adjusting to a standard moisture (for example 14% for many grains) puts every result on the same footing, making yields comparable across plots, seasons and farms — which is essential for insurance and statistics.
How is the moisture adjustment done?+
Adjusted weight = fresh weight × (100 − actual moisture %) ÷ (100 − standard moisture %). A sample at 20% moisture adjusted to a 14% standard weighs less on the books. The calculator applies this so the per-hectare figure reflects yield at the standard moisture, not the field-wet weight.
What plot size and shape should I use?+
Use a measured quadrat or rectangle — common sizes are 5 m × 5 m or 10 m × 5 m for cereals, smaller for dense crops. Mark it accurately, harvest everything inside it, and avoid edge and gap effects by placing it in a representative area away from headlands. Bigger or multiple plots reduce sampling error.
How does CCE relate to crop insurance?+
Schemes such as yield-based crop insurance use the average of many crop cutting experiments across an area to set the actual yield. If that falls below a guaranteed threshold, claims are triggered. So a careful CCE is not just an estimate — it can directly determine the payout. See the Crop Insurance Claim calculator to estimate claims.
How many crop cutting experiments are needed?+
A single plot is noisy; official estimation averages many CCEs spread across the assessment unit to smooth out field variation. For your own farm, taking several samples from different parts of the field and averaging them gives a far more reliable per-hectare figure than one cut.
Can I use any units?+
Yes — enter the plot size in metres and the harvested weight in kilograms or grams; the tool returns fresh yield per hectare, the moisture-adjusted yield, and the figure in quintals per hectare and tonnes per hectare so you can report it however your records or scheme require.
Are the figures exact?+
They are accurate for the sample you measured, but field yield varies. Accuracy depends on measuring the plot precisely, harvesting everything within it, weighing carefully and recording true moisture. Treat one plot as an estimate and average several CCEs for a dependable yield.