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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #60138
Title: SITE SPECIFIC CROP MANAGEMENT

Author
item HUMMEL, JOHN
item GOERING, CARROLL - UNIV OF ILLINOIS

Submitted to: Agronomy Day Program
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The modern concept of site-specific crop management (SSCM) includes applications of seed, fertilizers, and other materials at spatially-varied rates to suit the inherently variable productivity of soils. Use of SSCM is now becoming feasible because of new developments in electronics and computer technology. Powerful, low-cost computer capability allows agricultural producers to collect, store, and manipulate large data sets to visualize the variability in their fields. By incorporating a global positioning system (GPS) for position determination, spatially-varied application of fertilizers or other materials can be made. Low-cost, accurate sensors, designed specifically for measurement of soil parameters, are an area of current research interest. Sensing and mapping the variability of multiple soil parameters will make it easier to identify the factors that are limiting yields, and help the producer lower production costs while also limiting the opportunity for agricultural chemicals to escape into surface water and groundwater. Ion-selective field effect transistors (ISFETs) are under development at the University of Illinois for real-time sensing of soil nitrates. These devices operate in a flow injection system, require only small amounts of a soil extract for analysis, and have a very fast response. The ISFET equipment will be on display, and we will discuss it's application. A prototype soil organic matter sensor, developed at the University of Illinois, also will be on display. The sensor uses near infrared soil reflectance to predict organic matter. A single calibration equation in the software allows the sensor to predict soil organic matter of soils from the lower U.S. Cornbelt.