Variable-rate technology (VRT) has been developed to variablyThe potential for improved profitability due to variapply crop inputs to manage in-field variability. Although growers have able-rate N application depends on identifying areas in begun to adopt VRT, its profitability is uncertain in N management. the field where additional N inputs will increase revenue The objective of this study was to assess the economics of uniform vs. variable-rate N fertilizer application under two N application scenarios on a scale that is greater than the added costs and/or (farmer vs. custom applications). On-farm studies were conducted on identifying areas where reducing N inputs will decrease two continuous corn (Zea mays L.) fields in northeastern Colorado costs on a scale that is greater than potential revenue under furrow and center-pivot irrigation during the 2000 and 2001 reduction correlated with lower grain yield (Snyder et al., growing seasons. The N management strategies were uniform, grid-based, 1999). Therefore, the economic feasibility of variable-rate site-specific management zone-constant yield goal (SSMZ-CYG) and N application is focused on whether increases in gross site-specific management zone-variable yield goal (SSMZ-VYG). "Profit revenue or decreases in N input costs outweigh the added and loss" software was used to analyze the economics of each N cost of technologies or services needed for variable-rate N management strategy and determine which N strategy was most profitapplication ( Ferguson et al., 1999;Thrikawala et al., 1999). Thrikawala et al. (1999) reported that the profitability N fertilizer (6-46%) was used with the SSMZ-VYG N management strategy when compared with uniform N management. Net returns from of variable-rate N application increased above that of the SSMZ-VYG N management strategy were $18.21 to $29.57 ha Ϫ1 uniform N application as area and in-field soil variability more than uniform N management. Results of this study suggest variincreased. However, additional information and appliable-rate N application utilizing site-specific management zones are cation expenses are involved when managing spatial more economically feasible than conventional uniform N application. variability occurring throughout a field. Review of literature suggested that most studies incorporated the information costs (i.e., soil sampling, developing variable-rate able. Results from three site-years consistently indicated that less total
Researchers from Colorado State University, in collaboration with scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), initiated a long-term multidisciplinary study in precision agriculture in 1997. Site-specific management zones (SSMZ) were investigated as a means of improving nitrogen management in irrigated maize cropping systems. The objective was to develop precise nutrient management strategies for semi-arid irrigated cropping systems. This study was conducted in five fields in northeastern Colorado, USA. Two techniques for delineating management zones were developed and compared: SSMZ and yield-based management zones (YBMZ). Nitrogen uptake and grain yield differences among SSMZs were compared as were soil properties. Both management zone techniques were used to divide fields into smaller units that were different with regard to productivity potential (e.g., high zones had high productivity potential while low zones had low productivity potential). Economic analysis was also performed. Based on grain yield productivity, the SSMZs performed better than the YBMZ technique in most cases. Grain yield and N uptake between the low and high productivity management zones were statistically different for most site-years and N fertilizer rates (p \ 0.05). Soil properties helped to explain the productivity potential of the management zones. The low SSMZ was markedly different from the high SSMZ based on bulk density, organic carbon, sand, silt, porosity and soil moisture. Net returns ranged from 188 to 679 USD ha -1 . In two out of three site-years the variable yield goal strategy resulted in the largest net returns. In this study, the SSMZ approach delineates areas of different productivity accurately across the agricultural fields. The SSMZs are different with regard to soil properties as well as grain yield and N uptake. Site-specific management zones are an inexpensive and pragmatic approach to precise N management in irrigated maize.
Precision agriculture is a new and developing discipline that incorporates advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency of farm inputs in a profitable and environmentally sensible manner. Yield monitoring and variable rate application are the most widely used precision technologies. Versatile guidance systems utilizing the global positioning system (GPS) and management zone approaches are also being developed to further increase productivity by reducing error, cost, and time. These technologies provide tools to quantify and manage variability existing in fields across an array of cropping systems. A review of precision farming technologies that are currently being used in the
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