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Title: EVALUATING SOIL COLOR WITH FARMER INPUT AND APPARENT SOIL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY FOR MANAGEMENT ZONE DELINEATION

Author
item FLEMING, K. - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item HEERMANN, DALE
item WESTFALL, D. - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Fleming, K.L., Heermann, D.F., Westfall, D.G. 2004. Evaluating soil color with farmer input and apparent soil electrical conductivity for management zone delineation. Agronomy Journal. Vol. 96, Issue 6, Manuscript A03-0307. Nov.-Dec., 2004.

Interpretive Summary: Variable rate fertilizer application technology (VRT) can provide an opportunity to more efficiently utilize fertilizer inputs; however, accurate presecription maps are essential. Researchers and farmers have understood the value of dividing whole fields into smaller, homogeneous regions or management zones for fertility management. Management zones can be defined as spatially homogeneous subregions within a field that have similar crop input needs. Delineating management zones that characterize the spatial variability within a field may provide effective prescription maps for VRT. The objective of this research was to compare and evaluate management zones developed from soil color (SC) and farmer experience with management zones developed from apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). These two methods of developing management zones were compared with soil nutrient levels, texture, and crop yields collected on two fields in 1997. The soil and yield parameters followed the trends indicated by both management zone methods at Field 1 with the highest values found in the high productivity zones and the lowest in the low productivity zones. Significant differences were found among the management zones. However, at Field 2 the high and medium productivity zones were generally not significantly different using the SC approach, whereas, the ECa approach was effective in identifying three distinct management zones. Both methods of developing management zones seem to be identifying homogeneous subregions within fields.

Technical Abstract: Variable rate fertilizer application technology (VRT) can provide an opportunity to more efficiently utilize fertilizer inputs; however, accurate presecription maps are essential. Researchers and farmers have understood the value of dividing whole fields into smaller, homogeneous regions or management zones for fertility management. Management zones can be defined as spatially homogeneous subregions within a field that have similar crop input needs. Delineating management zones that characterize the spatial variability within a field may provide effective prescription maps for VRT. The objective of this research was to compare and evaluate management zones developed from soil color (SC) and farmer experience with management zones developed from apparent electrical conductivity (ECa). These two methods of developing management zones were compared with soil nutrient levels, texture, and crop yields collected on two fields in 1997. The soil and yield parameters followed the trends indicated by both management zone methods at Field 1 with the highest values found in the high productivity zones and the lowest in the low productivity zones. Significant differences were found among the management zones. However, at Field 2 the high and medium productivity zones were generally not significantly different using the SC approach, whereas, the ECa approach was effective in identifying three distinct management zones. Both methods of developing management zones seem to be identifying homogeneous subregions within fields.