Transcript Nutrient Management – Now and in the Future Richard Ferguson Tim Shaver University of Nebraska.

Nutrient Management –
Now and in the Future
Richard Ferguson
Tim Shaver
University of Nebraska
Origins of Soil Spatial Variability
Natural:
Soil = f (c, o, r, p, t)
H. Jenny (1941)
 c: climate
 o: organisms (plants, microbes, insects, animals)
 r: relief (topography)
 p: parent material
 t: time
Management induced (humans):
 Land use (cropping systems, field boundaries)
 Old roads, farmsteads, etc.
 Earth movement (land leveling, terraces)
 Tillage & traffic
 Planting patterns (e.g., in row crops)
 Fertilizer application, other amendments (lime, manure)
 Irrigation & salinity
 Crop nutrient removal (yield and crop residue management)
Goal: To manage spatial and temporal availability of
inputs, including fertilizer, for optimal crop production
and efficiency of resources.
This requires an understanding of the variability of soil
resources, and the ability to apply fertilizer at the right time and
rate.
Measurement of Spatial Variability in
Fields
 Experience
 County soil survey maps
 Photographs &
multispectral imagery
 Aerial
 Satellite
 Yield maps
 Topography/digital
elevation models (DEM)
 Apparent soil electrical
conductivity (ECa)
 Grid or directed soil
samples
 Soil sensors
 Electrochemical
 Electrical &
electromagnetic
 Mechanical
 Optical
 Crop canopy sensors
 Optical
 Acoustic
 Thermal
Yield Mapping
Combine
Grain Yield Monitor Components
GPS Antenna
Grain Flow
Sensor
Yield Monitor
Display with a
GPS Receiver
Header Position
Sensor
Moisture Sensor
Clean Grain Elevator
Speed Sensor
Travel Speed
Sensor
Veris 3100 Soil ECa
Measurement
Veris MSP: Soil pH
and ECa
Canopy
temperature sensor
Crop Circle
ACS-210
2 band
Crop Canopy
Sensors
Crop Circle
ACS-470
3 band
Ultrasonic height sensors
CropScan
2 band (laser)
Crop Circle
 Holland Scientific, Lincoln,
NE.
 Distribution agreement with
Ag Leader (OptRx system)
 2 foot sensing footprint
Field
Variability
Natural color aerial photo
Soil apparent electrical
conductivity
Soil series
False color infrared image
Directed soil sample – Bray-1 P
Active sensor canopy
reflectance
Grain yield
Apparent soil deep
electrical conductivity
overlaid on elevation
Grain yield overlaid on
elevation
Current and Emerging
Agricultural Technologies
Autosteer
Swath Control
 Investments for planter
clutches and boom section
plumbing for sprayers will
vary widely, with costs
increasing for more precise
control.
 Savings and gains in
efficiency will increase as
field shapes becomes more
irregular.
Swath Control
Standard planter or sprayer approach
Planter or sprayer with swath control
on every row or nozzle
Swath Control – Economic Impact
A University of Kentucky study
found substantial input cost
savings from swath control
adoption on irregularly shaped
fields.
At medium fertilizer rates, moving
from lightbar direction to
lightbar direction with swath
control resulted in savings of $25
to $33.48/acre.
Presented at the 9th International Conference on Precision
Agriculture, Denver, CO, July 2008.
Field shapes used in University
of Kentucky study.
Implement Steering Options
High Clearance Sprayers
In-season pesticide and fertilizer application
Linear Move and Center
Pivot Irrigation Systems
GPS Guidance and Variable Rate Irrigation
Variable Rate
Irrigation
Optical Mapping of Soil Organic Matter
South Central Agricultural Laboratory
November 2010
Soil Organic Matter (%)
Soil Sensor Research
On-the-go measurement of mechanical
resistance, soil moisture, and soil
reflectance in visible and near-infrared
bands.
Hyperspectral Mapping of Soil
Profile
Reflectance in 384 wavebands (4 shown)
John Deere Water Management
Water
Content
Automated Monitoring and
Telemetry Systems
Profile Water Content
20”
12”
36”
4” 8”
Date
Total Profile Water
Full Profile
Allowable Depletion
Wireless Soil Water Monitoring Network
Remote Control of Irrigation Systems
Pictures Courtesy of Valmont Industries
Derrel Martin,
Biological Systems Engineering
Remote-Sensing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
To monitor crop stress and onset of insect or disease infestation
Gyroscope
Three-axis attitude sensor
GPS antenna
Radio modem and
antenna
Air tanks and
pistons for
retractable
landing gear
Video transmitter and antenna
UAVs for Aerial Imagery
Crop Cam
OktoCopter
OktoCopter Flight
Austria - 2010
Robotics in Agriculture
Questions?