Dataset for: Remote sensing and agronomic data for drought trials evaluated at Umbeluzi Research Station in 2019 (1st experiment).

The trial had 24 clones. Check clones were 199062.1, Nhacoongo 1, Caromex, Xiadlaxakau, TIS2534, Irene and Xitsekele. The remaining 17 are parents from Gurue and Umbeluzi. The trials were planted at Umbeluzi from 20 to 23 December 2018. Each plot was 25m2. In this trial, there were 5 treatments namely, (i) optimum irrigation fertilizer (ii) optimum irrigation (iii) early season drought (iv) mid-season drought (v) late season drought. The treatments are defined as follows; (i) Irrigation + fertilizer – no water stress and fertilizer (NPK) applied at 35 days after planting in the treatment. (irrigation to water holding capacity of the soil) (ii) Irrigation – no water stress in the treatment (irrigation to water holding capacity of the soil) (iii) Early season drought – water withheld at 40 days after planting for 15 days. Drought intensity targetted is moderate to severe (40 to 70 % stress). Irrigation resumed at 50 to 56 days after planting. (iv) Mid-season drought – water withheld at 65 days after planting for 15 days. Drought intensity targetted is moderate to severe (40 to 70 % stress). Irrigation resumed at 80 to 86 days after planting. (v) Terminal drought - water withheld at 120 days after planting. No irrigation applied thereafter. Drought intensity targetted is moderate to severe (40 to 70 % stress). Experimental design: row column design (6 rows x 8 columns per each treatment), 2 replications per treatment. Soil analysis done for each field. The trial was mainly supported by irrigation.