Project title:
Thematic Soil Mapping and Crop-Based Strategies for Site-Specific Management
Principal investigators:
Dobermann, A., Caldwell, R.M., Adamchuk, V.I., Ferguson, R.B.
Duration: 2001-2005
Funding: Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (USDA, NASA)
Subcontractors and Collaborators:
USDA/ARS Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit (USDA-SWCRU), Nebraska
Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA), Nebraska Independent Crop Consultants
Association (NICCA), University of Michigan, Purdue University, MapShots,
Inc., mPower3, Inc.
Contact:
Achim Dobermann
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Lincoln, 68583-0915
adobermann2@unl.edu
(phone: 402-472-1501)
Project description:
Fertilizer is traditionally applied at uniform rates across fields because
of time and cost considerations. However, because of the spatial variability
of most landscapes, not all areas in the fields require the same levels of
fertilizer and over-application of nitrogen (N) on corn has resulted in elevated
levels of N in ground and surface waters. Our overall goal is to increase
the efficiency of site-specific management of primary plant nutrients and
other soil properties and thereby increase the profitability of farming and
decrease negative environmental impact. This project consists of two strategies:
(a) improved acquisition and usage of thematic soil maps and (b) in-season
nitrogen management of corn based on crop sensing. Soil-based approaches will
focus on developing on-the-go sensors and advanced geostatistical techniques
for soil mapping at high spatial resolution. Crop-based N management will
focus on developing canopy reflectance thresholds for triggering in-season
N applications and field testing of sensor/applicator systems in combination
with imagery from satellites and aircraft.
The specific objectives are to
(1) develop technology for improved mapping of physical and chemical soil
properties and to quantify the costs and errors associated with different
strategies, (2) develop objective procedures for defining finite management
elements (zones), (3) develop algorithms for triggering N applications based
on in-season canopy reflectance data, (4) demonstrate the ability of high-clearance
applicator systems to reduce total N applications, (5) assess the performance
of site-specific management strategies, and (6) disseminate the developed
tools and educate public and private sector professionals and producers in
the science and engineering of site-specific nutrient management. Interdisciplinary
on-farm research will be conducted at several sites in Nebraska in close collaboration
with producers, crop consultants, and data providing or engineering companies
to ensure practicality of the developed tools and methods. The project will
document acceptance of the technology, impacts on farm practice, and improvements
in fertilizer use efficiency.
[View full project description - Sub-Project 1]
[View
full project description - Sub-Project 2]
Publications:
2005
Amos, B., T.J. Arkebauer, and J.W. Doran. 2005. Soil surface fluxes of greenhouse gases in an irrigated maize-based agroecosystem. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 69:387-395. [Full Paper]
Lindquist, J.L., T.J. Arkebauer, D.T. Walters, K.G. Cassman, and A. Dobermann. 2005. Maize radiation use efficiency under optimal growth conditions. Agron. J. 97:72-78. [Full Paper]
Dobermann, A. 2005. Nitrogen use efficiency - state of the
art. In IFA International Workshop on Enhanced-Efficiency Fertilizers, Frankfurt,
Germany, 28-30 June, 2005. International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA),
Paris. [Full
Paper]
2004
Dobermann, A., and J.L. Ping. 2004. Geostatistical integration
of yield monitor data and remote sensing improves yield maps. Agron. J. 96:285-297.
[Full
paper]
Simbahan, G.C., A. Dobermann, and J.L. Ping. 2004. Screening
yield monitor data improves grain yield maps. Agron. J. 96:1091-1102. [Full
paper]
2003
Adamchuk, V.I., Lund,
E., Dobermann, A., Morgan, M.T., 2003. On-the-go mapping of soil properties
using ion-selective electrodes. In: Stafford, J.V., Werner, A. (Ed.), Precision
agriculture. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, pp. 27-33. [Full
paper]
Dobermann, A., .J. L. Ping, V. I. Adamchuk, G. C. Simbahan,
and R. B. Ferguson. 2003.
Ping, J. L. and A. Dobermann. 2003. Creating Spatially Contiguous
Yield Classes for Site-Specific Management. Agron. J. 95:1121–1131. [Full
paper]
2002
Adamchuk, V.I., A. Dobermann, M.T. Morgan, and S.M. Brouder. 2002. Feasibility of on-the-go mapping of soil nitrate and potassium using ion selective electrodes. ASAE paper no. 02-1183. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. [Full paper]