Research Accomplishment Reports 2007

Precision Agriculture: Precision Resource Management - Phase III

S. A.Shearer, G.J. Schwab, B.D. Lee
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

 

Project Description

Economic and environmental pressures are causing the agricultural production sector to seek more competitive ways of producing food and fiber products while minimizing the impact on the environment.

This project seeks to develop management approaches using GIS, GPS and VRT in combination to improve agricultural productivity and profitability while conserving and protecting the natural resource base. This project has nine subcomponent outputs that include:

1) precision timing and on-the-go sensor technologies for variable rate fertilizer application - This project seeks to develop a production economic model that evaluates the sensitivity to fertilizer and fuel price and the range of spatial variability in a field and how this affects the producer's decision to use VRT and non-VRT practices.

2) refinement of testing procedures for dynamic GPS accuracy, evaluate of autosteer system performance, and determine the economic viability of guidance technologies;

3) acquisition and archiving of weather data in GIS-compatible formats for use in enhancing yield data analysis and spatial modeling;

4) integration of economic and environmental sensitivity assessments in citing trails in public lands to minimize the disturbance of conserved ecosystems;

5) prediction and tracking the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid in Kentucky forests;

6) determine the spatial patterning of the effects of single-trees and exotic species on soil nutrient N and C cycling and soil biota - This project seeks to determine if rates of N and C cycling differ under the canopies of the three dominant tree species.

7) evaluating post-mined land reforestation through the spatial assessment of soil genesis to identify mine spoil types most suitable for the rapid development of a soils capable of supporting plant life;

8) evaluating FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) imagery technologies for surveying large mammals populations; and

9) developing a software package display and analyze spatial patterns in wildlife behavior and interactions with the environment.

Impact

Impacts of work to date are enumerated as the sub-project areas above.

1) Whole farm analysis of the profitability of variable rate technology and precision timing in light of increased fertilizer and fuel prices was conducted. The representative commercial sized crop farm examined had gains of over $1500 per year for the business. The commonly held belief that increased fertilizer prices must lead to greater profitability of variable rate application is not supported meaning farmers should be careful in making the switch to variable rate on that basis alone.

2) Robotic total station technology provides the capacity to evaluate RTK GPS-based systems in a dynamic environment. System evaluation activities augment current facilities and expertise with increased positional measurement capabilities making UK a leader on GPS-based system performance in agricultural situations. Economic evaluations will provide decision tools regarding lightbar and autosteer selection for Kentucky and other locations with similar topographic challenges.

3) Acquiring weather datasets will allow spatial weather data integration into GIS for use in modeling and analysis projects. This will allow future research in precision resource management including crop performance analysis and stream modeling.

4) Location of new equine trails and management of existing trails are important land management issues. Horse based tourism and recreation contribute a large economic value in Kentucky. Assessment of benefits and costs is necessary to guide public investment.

5) This project has raised public awareness about HWA infestation in Kentucky. The HWA distribution map (available at http://www.uky.edu/~sfei2/hwa.htm) has been cited many times, including the Herald-Leader newspaper and Kentucky Woodland Owner magazine.

6) This research will elucidate the spatial patterning of single-tree effects, and examine the relationship between tree species effects on soil biota and nutrient cycling processes, thus contributing to a better understanding of constraints on tree species regeneration in the bluegrass savanna and restoration of this unique landscape. This research will also examine spatial impacts of invasive species on soil biota and nutrient cycling processes and contribute to a better understanding of impacts of invasive species on ecosystem processes, with the potential to inform effective management strategies for control.

7) Results of this project are critical to the Office of Surface Mining's Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, to re-educate mining companies and regulatory authorities about good forestry reclamation practices. These efforts will also help determine the appropriateness of spoil type for reforestation, with significant economic implications for reforestation of mined lands.

8) We will determine whether FLIR is an accurate and cost-effective method for surveying black bear and elk in a variety of landcover types. If proven effective, FLIR will assist state wildlife managers in estimating populations of black bear and elk in southeastern Kentucky.

Publications

Dillon, C.R., S. Shearer, J. Fulton and S. Pitla. "Improved Profitability via Enhanced Variable Rate Application Management in Grain Crop Production" Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. J Stafford, ed. Skiathos, Greece. June 3-6, 2007. 819-825.

Dillon, C.R., T.S. Stombaugh, B. Kayrouz, J. Salim and B.K. Koostra. "An Educational Workshop on the Use of Precision Agriculture as a Risk Management Tool" Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. J Stafford, ed. Skiathos, Greece. June 3-6, 2007. 861-867.

Gandonou, J. and C.R. Dillon. "Precision Timing and Spatial Allocation of Economic Fertilizer Application Considering Suitable Field Days" Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. J Stafford, ed. Skiathos, Greece. June 3-6, 2007. 737-743.

Poulette, M.M. and M.A. Arthur. 2007. Single-tree effects of savanna trees and the influence of invasive species on soil nitrogen cycling. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, August 5-10, San Jose, Ca. Abstract PS-126: http://eco.confex.com/eco/2007/techprogram/.

Poulette, M.M. and M.A. Arthur. 2007. Spatial patterning of the effects of savanna trees and exotic species on soil nutrient cycling. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2007 International Annual Meetings, November 4-8, New Orleans, LA. Abstract 96-1: http://crops.confex.com/crops/2007am/techprogram/

Shockley, J.M., C.R. Dillon and S. Saghaian. "Precision Agriculture Adoption and the Optimal Location of Technology Providers in Kentucky, USA." Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. J Stafford, ed. Skiathos, Greece. June 3-6, 2007. 769-773.