Agronomy Journal Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


Published online 1 March 1998
Published in Agron J 90:191-197 (1998)
© 1998 American Society of Agronomy
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sadler, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Karlen, D. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Sadler, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Karlen, D. L.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Sadler, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Karlen, D. L.

Spatial Scale Requirements for Precision Farming: A Case Study in the Southeastern USA

E. John Sadler*, Warren J. Busscher, Philip J. Bauer and Douglas L. Karlen

USDA-ARS, Coastal Plains Soil, Water, and Plant Res. Ctr., 2611 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501-1242

* Corresponding author (sadler{at}florence.ars.usda.gov).

Precision farming has created a critical need for spatial data on crop yield and related soil characteristics. However, because data are not without cost, users need practical guidelines for spatial resolution on which to collect soil and plant data. Our objectives were (i) describe variation observed in crop response in the southeastern Coastal Plain of the USA, (ii) to compare it with variation in other regions, and (iii) to offer suggestions for precision farming practices in the southeastern Coastal Plain. From 1985 to 1995, corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] yields were mapped at from 10- to 20-m resolution in an 8-ha field at Florence, SC. Also available were topography (30-m resolution), depth to clay (15 m), and in 1993, plant height on one date (9 m), canopy temperature on four dates (1.5 m), and detailed crop and soil information at selected sites. Yield of all crops in all years was significantly (P < 0.0007), though not strongly (median r2 = 0.3), correlated with soil map unit. In 1993, infrared thermometer canopy temperature minus air temperature ({triangleup}Tc) was correlated with soil map unit, even on the second day after a 46-mm rain. Spherical semivariograms fitted to yields had ranges from 57 to 252 m (median = 79 m) and nugget/sill ratios from 0.00 to 0.56 (median = 0.32). Semivariograms for canopy temperature and plant height had ranges from 43 to 77 m. If the spatial structure for common soil characteristics matches the spatial structure for crop response, Coastal Plain soils may require study at finer resolution than the >100-m grid that is commonly used in precision farming.

Received for publication April 9, 1997.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
D. L. Shaner, R. Khosla, M. K. Brodahl, G. W. Buchleiter, and H. J. Farahani
How Well Does Zone Sampling Based on Soil Electrical Conductivity Maps Represent Soil Variability?
Agron. J., September 8, 2008; 100(5): 1472 - 1480.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
K. L. Martin, P. J. Hodgen, K. W. Freeman, R. Melchiori, D. B. Arnall, R. K. Teal, R. W. Mullen, K. Desta, S. B. Phillips, J. B. Solie, et al.
Plant-to-Plant Variability in Corn Production
Agron. J., November 17, 2005; 97(6): 1603 - 1611.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
R. M. Johnson and E. P. Richard Jr.
Sugarcane Yield, Sugarcane Quality, and Soil Variability in Louisiana
Agron. J., April 27, 2005; 97(3): 760 - 771.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
H. Shahandeh, A. L. Wright, F. M. Hons, and R. J. Lascano
Spatial and Temporal Variation of Soil Nitrogen Parameters Related to Soil Texture and Corn Yield
Agron. J., April 27, 2005; 97(3): 772 - 782.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
A. Roel and R. E. Plant
Factors Underlying Yield Variability in Two California Rice Fields
Agron. J., September 1, 2004; 96(5): 1481 - 1494.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Soil Sci.Home page
A. N. Kravchenko
Influence of Spatial Structure on Accuracy of Interpolation Methods
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2003; 67(5): 1564 - 1571.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
J. F. Perez-Quezada, G. S. Pettygrove, and R. E. Plant
Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Yield and Soil Factors in Two Four-Crop-Rotation Fields in the Sacramento Valley, California
Agron. J., May 1, 2003; 95(3): 676 - 687.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
R. M. Johnson, R. G. Downer, J. M. Bradow, P. J. Bauer, and E. J. Sadler
Variability in Cotton Fiber Yield, Fiber Quality, and Soil Properties in a Southeastern Coastal Plain
Agron. J., November 1, 2002; 94(6): 1305 - 1316.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Soil Sci.Home page
E. Perfect and J. Caron
Spectral Analysis of Tillage-Induced Differences in Soil Spatial Variability
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2002; 66(5): 1587 - 1595.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Soil Sci.Home page
J. P. Schmidt, R. K. Taylor, and G. A. Milliken
Evaluating the Potential for Site-Specific Phosphorus Applications Without High-Density Soil Sampling
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2002; 66(1): 276 - 283.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Soil Sci.Home page
T. G. Mueller, F. J. Pierce, O. Schabenberger, and D. D. Warncke
Map Quality for Site-Specific Fertility Management
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2001; 65(5): 1547 - 1558.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Agron. J.Home page
E.J. Sadler, P. J. Bauer, and W. J. Busscher
Site-Specific Analysis of a Droughted Corn Crop: I. Growth and Grain Yield
Agron. J., May 1, 2000; 92(3): 395 - 402.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Soil Sci.Home page
J. Bouma, J. Stoorvogel, B.J. van Alphen, and H.W.G. Booltink
Pedology, Precision Agriculture, and the Changing Paradigm of Agricultural Research
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 1999; 63(6): 1763 - 1768.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
The SCI Journals Crop Science Vadose Zone Journal
Journal of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences Education
Soil Science Society of America Journal
Journal of Plant Registrations Journal of
Environmental Quality
The Plant Genome
Copyright © 1998 by the American Society of Agronomy.