Developing Multi-Variate Management Zones for Corn Production
This project intends to evaluate the benefit of multi-variate management zones and develop strategies which can account for the temporal and spacial variability seen in crop nutrient requirements.
IPNI-2014-USA-OK08
01 Apr 2014
Project Description
Into/justification
As agricultural technologies advance the amount of information collected per acre in increasing at a rapid pace. Many are looking towards methods to take advantage of this data and make management decision. Currently many of these decisions made based upon assumptions and theory’s and most focus at a one dimensional resolution.
Objectives
This project intends to evaluate the benefit of multi-variate management zones and develop strategies which can account for the temporal and spacial variability seen in crop nutrient requirements.
Methods
Year 1:
Several fields will be grid sampled to identify those with the ideal characteristics for this work.
These attributes include but are not limited to:
- Soil Test P: Variable levels with areas of deficiency.
- Soil Test K: Variable levels with areas of deficiency.
- Texture and OM: Varied across the field.
- Yield History: preferably 3 years of yield history.
- Soil pH: preferred that pH will not be a factor.
Once the optimum field is identified additional data will be collected including but not limited to:
- elevation, 2015 crop imagery and or NDVI, Veris EC.
Year 2-3:
In the fields identified response studies to identify which characteristics and data layers best describe the responses and their interactions will be carried out in locations within the field. Primary variables of interest will be plant nutrients, corn hybrid, and corn planting population. All field activities, with the exception of weed and pest control, will be performed by the research project.
Field Methods:
In each field prior to planting nutrients will be variably applied based upon OSU recs. For each nutrient applied zero checks will be placed within the hybrid x population strips which will be discussed next. For nutrients with multiple levels of application rate a check will be left out of each rate.
In each field strip trials will be planted. Strip trials will consist of a three hybrids planted at four populations. The three hybrids will be selected by regional specialist with one representing the area standard, one a “race horse” high yield potential hybrid, one “work horse” hybrid for low productive soils. Populations selected will be in a 4,000 seeds per acre around the area standard. Each strip will be four rows wide and plots will be harvested with the two row Massey 8Xp. Strips will be placed in the field so that they will across as many fertility zones as possible.
 | Jan-March | April-June | July-Sept | Oct-Dec |
Year 1 | Identify potential fields | Grid Sample fields | Collect NDVI, Imagery, yield from selected locs | Prepare equipment |
Year 2 | Apply VRT Nutrients | Plant VRT Pop and Hybrid | Harvest | Analyze data |
Year 3 | Apply VRT Nutrients | Plant VRT Pop and Hybrid | Harvest | Analyze data |
Year 4 | Prepare manuscript | Prepare manuscript | Publish manuscript | |