基于光谱指数的冬小麦变量施肥效应研究

【目的】由适时获得的高光谱数据代替传统繁琐的实验室土壤养分测定数据来进行变量施肥,实现冬小麦高产优质的目标。【方法】本研究利用冬小麦起身期和拔节期冠层光谱数据,选用反映冬小麦长势信息的优化土壤调节植被指数(OSAVI,optimization of soil-adjusted vegetation index)和变量施肥模型进行变量施肥管理(变量区),以相邻地块常规非变量(均一)施肥区(对照区)为对照,研究了不同氮肥处理冬小麦冠层光谱特征及其施肥效应。【结果】变量施肥之后两种氮肥处理在敏感波段670nm和760～900nm处反射率差异明显,而670nm和760～900nm是氮素和冠层的敏感波段,说明进行变量施肥时,利用基于这两个波段组合的光谱指数OSAVI优于其它波段组合的光谱指数;OSAVI不同生育时期的变化情况,反映了变量施肥在调控作物长势及群体结构上的优势;与对照区相比变量区提高产量达378.72kg·ha-1,并降低了各小区产量之间的变异,变量区土壤硝态氮浓度降低,氮肥利用率提高,生态效益较为明显。【结论】该技术通过改善冬小麦群体质量,延缓了植株衰老,促进干物质和氮积累,增加冬小麦产量和氮肥利用率。     

基于冠层光谱数据和作物生长模型结合的冬小麦变量施肥优化算法研究

本研究利用冬小麦起身期和拔节期冠层光谱数据,选用反映冬小麦长势信息的优化土壤调节植被指数OSAVI(Optimization of soil-adjusted vegetation index)与CERES-Wheat模型相结合进行变量施肥管理(变量区),对变量施肥模型进行验证并进行了优化,旨在为变量施肥提供理论依据。     

基于高光谱的冬小麦叶面积指数估算方法

【目的】冬小麦叶面积指数是评价其长势和预测产量的重要农学参数,高光谱技术监测叶面积指数的方法能够实现快速无损的监测管理。本文旨在将田间监测和高光谱遥感相结合,探索研究中国南方江汉平原地区冬小麦的最佳波段、光谱参数及监测模型。【方法】研究选取江汉平原的湖北省潜江市后湖管理区,利用ASD地物光谱仪和SunScan冠层分析系统在田间对冬小麦的冠层光谱及叶面积指数的变化进行监测,并探讨高光谱植被指数与冬小麦叶面积指数之间的定量关系。通过相关性分析、回归分析等方法构建6种植被指数与冬小麦叶面积指数的反演模型。【结果】冬小麦冠层光谱反射率中近红外波段870 nm,红光波谷670 nm,绿光波峰550 nm,蓝光450 nm波段对叶面积指数变化最为敏感,通过构建植被指数与叶面积指数模型,相关性均较好,决定系数（R2）为0.675-0.757,其中NDVI反演模型的R2最高为0.757。【结论】经模型精度检验,NDVI植被指数反演模型的精度较其它模型好,较适合对研究样区的冬小麦进行叶面积指数反演。     

不同灌溉条件下冬小麦冠层含水量的光谱响应

【目的】寻找快速、无损地诊断冠层含水量的方法,对冬小麦长势监测、旱情评估及变量灌溉提供技术支持。【方法】基于田间变量灌溉试验,分析生育期、灌溉量对冬小麦冠层含水量的影响,解析冠层光谱对不同灌溉处理下冠层含水量的响应规律,以冠层等效水厚度（EWTc）为表征指标,基于连续小波变换（CWT）技术,构建冬小麦冠层等效水厚度光谱诊断模型,利用独立样本验证模型精度。【结果】冬小麦冠层等效水厚度在生育后期均随着灌溉量的增多而增加,并随着生育进程的推进而减少;冬小麦冠层光谱反射率随着生育进程的推进而降低,在近红外和中红外波段冠层光谱反射率均表现为1水>0.5水>0水;与原始冠层光谱反射率相比,经连续小波变换后的小波系数与冠层等效水厚度相关性在第1、2、3、5、6、7分解尺度均有不同程度的提高,提高幅度在8.40%—26.20%;以第6尺度2 400 nm、第2尺度1 596 nm和第7尺度2 397 nm构建的冠层等效水厚度光谱诊断模型稳定性和精度较好,验证样本决定系数R ²为0.5411,RMSE为0.0127 cm。【结论】冬小麦冠层含水量随着灌溉时间与灌溉量发生规律性变化,在水分敏感波段范围内呈现明显的光谱响应特征,连续小波变换技术可以有效提高冠层光谱特征参量与冠层等效水厚度的相关性,实现冬小麦冠层含水量光谱诊断,可以为冬小麦田间变量灌溉决策提供技术支持。     

宁夏银北盐碱地不同植被光谱特征研究

【目的】研究不同程度盐碱化土壤上植被的光谱特征，为基于典型植被冠层光谱特征估测宁夏银北地区植被生长状况和土壤盐碱化程度提供理论依据。【方法】于2018年7月中旬，在宁夏银北盐碱地区选取样地，调查不同盐碱化程度土壤的理化性质及其上代表性植被的叶片叶绿素相对含量，分析不同程度盐碱化土壤上代表性植被类型（白刺和芦苇）以及中度盐碱化程度土壤上15种植被（向日葵、芦苇、花花柴、白茎盐生草、西伯利亚滨藜、藜、稗、紫苜蓿、柳枝稷、水稻、砂引草、白刺、槐、赖草、芨芨草）的冠层光谱特征及红边参数变化，研究植被冠层红边参数与土壤pH值、全盐含量以及叶片叶绿素含量的相关性。【结果】不同程度盐碱化土壤的理化性质及其上代表性植被的叶片叶绿素相对含量有明显差异。随着土壤盐碱化程度的增加，在可见光波段（350～760 nm），白刺冠层光谱反射率呈先上升后下降的趋势，芦苇冠层光谱反射率总体上先降低后升高；在760～1 400 nm波段，白刺冠层光谱反射率逐渐降低，芦苇冠层反射率先升高后降低；在1 400～2 500 nm波段，白刺冠层反射率分别是先升高后降低（1 400～1 900 nm）和持续增加（1 900～2 500 nm），芦苇冠层反射率先降低后升高。随着土壤盐碱化程度的增加，白刺冠层光谱红边位置、红边斜率、红边峰值面积以及红边斜率与最小振幅的比值均减小；芦苇冠层光谱以上红边参数均先增加后减小。中度盐碱化土壤上，15种植被冠层光谱特征曲线变化趋势相似，但光谱反射率大小存在不同程度差异；除了最小振幅之外，15种植被冠层光谱的红边位置、红边斜率、红边峰值面积以及红边斜率与最小振幅的比值差异较大，故根据光谱特征在野外能够区分典型植被类型。土壤pH值与红边位置、红边斜率和红边峰值面积均呈极显著负相关关系，与红边斜率与最小振幅的比值呈显著负相关关系；土壤全盐含量与红边参数均不相关；叶片叶绿素含量与红边位置之间呈极显著正相关关系，与红边斜率和红边峰值面积之间为显著正相关关系。【结论】在不同程度盐碱化土壤上，不同植被冠层光谱特征变化趋势有差异，根据典型植被冠层光谱特征可以估测宁夏银北地区植被生长状况和土壤pH。     

基于人工神经网络的大豆叶面积高光谱反演研究

【目的】探索不同高光谱模型监测大豆叶面积指数LAI的精度。【方法】实测不同水肥耦合作用下，大豆冠层的高光谱反射率与叶面积指数（Leaf Area Index）数据，对二者进行相关分析；采用敏感波段(801nm,670nm)构建RVI, NDVI, SAVI, OSAVI 和MTVI2植被指数，建立大豆LAI估算模型；最后采用相关系数较大的波段作为神经网络模型的输入变量进行大豆LAI的估算。【结果】大豆LAI与光谱反射率在可见光波段呈负相关、近红外波段呈正相关、红边处相关系数由负变正；微分光谱在三边处与大豆LAI关系密切，在红边处取得最大回归确定性系数（R2 = 0.86）。植被指数可以较为精确反演大豆LAI，确定性系数R2>0.84。人工神经网络模型可以大大提高大豆LAI的估算水平，当隐藏层节点数为2时，R2为0.92，随着隐藏层节点数的增加，R2可高达0.96；在没有黄熟期数据干扰的情况下，神经网络可以进一步提高大豆LAI的反演精度，R2可高达0.99。【结论】与基于植被指数建立的模型相比，神经网络模型可以有效避免因LAI过高而出现的过饱和现象，大大提高了LAI的反演精度。     

基于高光谱遥感的冬小麦叶水势估算模型

【目的】采用高光谱技术,建立快速、无损与准确获取冬小麦叶水势的估算模型,为小麦灌溉的精确管理提供科学依据。【方法】利用不同水分处理的大田试验,于小麦主要生育期同步测定冠层光谱反射率、叶水势、土壤水分等信息,并探讨高光谱植被指数与冬小麦叶水势之间的定量关系。通过相关性分析、回归分析等方法,基于不同水分处理,构建4种植被指数与冬小麦叶水势的估算模型。【结果】不同水分处理和不同生育期的冬小麦,其冠层光谱反射率具有显著的变化特征。在可见光波段,冬小麦冠层反射率随着水分含量的增加而逐渐降低,而在近红外波段,其冠层反射率则随着土壤水分含量的增加而升高。随着小麦生育期的推进,在近红外波段,抽穗期的冠层反射率比拔节期的高,在灌浆期之后,红波段(670 nm)、蓝波段(450 nm)的反射率上升加快;4种植被指数与叶水势显著相关(P0.05),相关系数|r|均在0.711以上,四者均可用于冬小麦叶片水势的定量监测。在充分供水条件下(70%FC),植被指数OSAVI和EVI2与叶水势的相关系数|r|(分别为0.75和0.771)均低于植被指数NDVI和RVI与叶水势的相关系数|r|(分别为0.808和0.896),而在重度水分亏缺条件下(50%FC),植被指数OSAVI和EVI2与叶水势的相关系数|r|(分别为0.857和0.853)均高于植被指数NDVI和RVI与叶水势的相关系数|r|(分别为0.711和0.792);所建模型对45个未知样的预测结果与实测值相似度较高,其回归模型R~2、验证模型MRE、RMSE的范围分别为0.616—0.922、-17.50%—-12.52%、0.102—0.133。在70%FC水分处理下,基于EVI2(enhanced vegetation index)所得叶水势估算模型的R~2最高,为0.922,而在60%FC和50%FC水分处理下,由于考虑了土壤背景的影响,基于OSAVI所建模型的R~2最高,分别为0.922和0.856。【结论】4种植被指数均可用于冬小麦叶水势的定量监测。但是,在构建不同水分处理的叶水势估算模型时,应考虑土壤背景对冠层光谱的影响。研究结果可以为小麦精准灌溉管理提供技术依据,为星载数据的参数反演提供模型支持。     

倒伏春性冬小麦冠层光谱特征及倒伏严重度预测

采用高光谱仪测定不同春性冬小麦品种于不同时期倒伏的群体冠层光谱反射率,分析不同倒伏条件下的小麦冠层光谱特征,建立可快速、有效监测小麦倒伏严重程度的数学模型,为合理评价倒伏程度提供依据。结果表明,小麦倒伏后冠层光谱反射率增加,可见光波段550 nm附近出现1个波峰,670 nm附近出现1个波谷;近红外波段1 000 nm处出现1个较明显的波动,呈现2个波谷,1个波峰。同一倒伏级别下,倒伏时期不同,光谱反射率曲线存在差异,可见光波段乳熟末期冠层反射率高于开花期光谱反射率,而近红外波段恰好相反;在同一倒伏时期,倒伏级别越高,光谱反射率越大。倒伏级别与冠层光谱反射率的相关系数于760 nm处达最大(r=0.973 4**)。与NDVI、RVI、DVI相比,采用760 nm处冠层光谱反射率和DVI可有效评估春性冬小麦倒伏严重度。     

干旱区基于高光谱的棉花遥感估产研究

【目的】揭示棉花产量与冠层光谱植被指数相关关系,建立棉花高光谱估算模型,促进高光谱技术在棉花长势监测和估产中应用。【方法】结合棉花生长发育规律,对棉花各时期冠层进行高光谱反射率测定,根据光谱曲线特征构建高光谱植被指数,基于棉花盛蕾期至吐絮后期7次地面光谱和产量测定,对光谱反射率与产量进行统计分析。【结果】各生育期可见光波段、近红外波段及短波红外波段光谱反射率与产量间分别达显著负相关、显著正相关与显著负相关水平。根据棉花冠层光谱波形特征,利用植被红边波段560 nm反射峰、670 nm吸收谷、近红外波段890 nm反射峰、980 nm和1 210 nm两个弱水汽吸收谷、短波红外1 650 nm和2 200 nm反射峰,设计归一化差值光谱指数,并与棉花产量进行相关分析,利用上述波段组合定义的归一化差值光谱指数与产量在各生育期均达显著或极显著相关,而VARI_700抗大气植被指数在各生育期均达极显著相关。【结论】以VARI_700抗大气植被指数建立各生育期的产量预报模型,为实现棉花营养生长期长势监测与产量预报提供依据。     

高光谱遥感数据估算蓖麻初级生产力主要参数研究

以蓖麻在不同氮、磷施用水平下的大田实验为基础,研究了高光谱遥感在估测蓖麻初级生产力主要参数中的应用。结果表明,随着施肥水平的提高,蓖麻叶面积指数（LAI）和生物量增大,导致冠层光谱特征发生相应变化,近红外波段（700~900 nm）的反射率显著增大。350~900 nm波段特别是700~900 nm波段的蓖麻冠层光谱反射率值在花果盛期最大,种子成熟期次之,苗期最低,与蓖麻LAI变化一致,可以用来监测蓖麻的长势和营养状态。构建的高光谱植被指数NDVI、RVI与LAI和ABM回归模型确定系数均较高,分别达到了0.6115、0.6363、0.7102和0.6148,可以用来估测不同物候期蓖麻的叶面积指数和地上部分生物量。     

Uniformity of wheat yield and quality using sensor assisted application of nitrogen

Proximal sensing, or obtaining information from close range, is a potentially useful tool for measuring the crop nitrogen status in real-time The objective of this study was to use proximal sensing of crop canopy spectral reflectance to evaluate variable-rate application of nitrogen in terms of its effect on yield and grain quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The sensor used was the Hydro-Precise N-Sensor System. Yield and grain quality maps were used as a basis for full-scale field trials with winter wheat growing under four nitrogen application treatments: a large (274 kg ha^?1), recommended (167 kg ha^?1) and two sensor-assisted (167 kg ha^?1) rates. The recommended rate of 167 kg N ha^?1 was given in a three-split application that meets the present Danish regulations to reduce nitrogen leaching. These require arable farmers to decrease nitrogen fertilizer application to 90% of the economically optimal level. Each farm’s baseline is calculated to take into account land quality, land allocated to each crop, and crop rotation. In the two sensor-assisted applications the Hydro-Precise N-Sensor System directs the last two of the three-split N application. Grain samples were collected directly from the grain flow of a combine harvester and analysed for protein, water and starch content. Grain data were related to and compared with combine yield meter registrations. Within the field, the variances of protein yield (698–1208 kg ha^?1) and grain protein (9.5–13.4%) were large. The nitrogen application treatments affected the average protein content (10.5–12.3%) and grain yield (9.87–10.42 t ha^?1) strongly. The grain starch content was largest in the uniform and sensor applied systems and smallest in the high nitrogen application treatment. Applying nitrogen according to the Hydro-Precise N-Sensor System did not increase grain yield or the protein and starch contents. Minor differences only were observed in both protein content and yield between uniform-rate N application and sensor-based variable-rate N application.     

不同有机养分替代化肥对小麦产量、氮肥利用率及土壤肥力的影响

为探究有机肥种类和替代比例对小麦产量、氮肥利用率及土壤肥力的影响,通过田间小区试验,设置不施肥（CK）,常规施肥（CN）,优化减量施肥（ON）,优化减量配施15%（ONL-15%）、30%（ONL-30%）和50%（ONL-50%）沼液氮,优化减量配施30%堆肥氮（ONC-30%）,优化减量配施30%商品有机肥氮（ONS-30%）共8个处理。结果表明：与CN处理相比,ON、ONL-15%和ONL-30%处理均显著增加小麦籽粒产量和氮肥利用率,其中ONL-15%处理小麦产量最高,较CN和ON处理分别增产16.18%和14.08%,该处理下氮肥利用率也由CN处理的18.41%增至36.46%,表明优化减量配施15%沼液氮肥为减氮配施沼液最佳比例。在30%替代比例下,不同种类有机肥配施对小麦增产效果存在差异,与ON处理相比,沼液配施增加小麦产量和氮肥利用率,而堆肥和商品有机肥配施显著降低小麦产量。堆肥配施可以促进土壤全氮、水解性氮和有效磷的积累,商品有机肥配施对缓解土壤酸化、增加土壤有机质含量具有较好效果。有机无机配施处理减少32.60%~65.91%硝态氮在耕层土壤的残留,增加土壤有效氮含量。研究表明：堆肥和商品有机肥与化肥配施能培肥土壤;沼液与化肥配施通过促进土壤有效氮供应,提高氮肥利用率,从而增加小麦产量,在施氮量为165 kg·hm^-2时,以沼液替代15%化肥氮比例效果最佳。     

不同土壤类型下长期施肥对土壤养分与小麦产量影响的比较研究

基于湖南、北京两地19年的长期定位施肥试验,开展了不同土壤类型下不同施肥处理对土壤养分、小麦产量及产量构成因素影响的比较研究.结果表明:在褐潮土和红壤2种不同土壤类型上,有机无机均衡施肥(NPKM)均能够明显提高土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、全磷、有效磷和速效钾含量,而长期不均衡施用无机肥土壤中N、P、K养分在2种土壤上则表现出较低的水平,尤以红壤上降低最为明显.有机无机肥配施能够显著提高小麦产量,与对照处理(CK)相比,在红壤上增产788.32%,对产量形成的贡献率为88.74%;在褐潮土上增产828.05%,对产量形成的贡献率为89.22%.在2种土壤类型上无机均衡施肥(NPK)小麦产量差异比较明显,在褐潮土上的增产潜力高于红壤,而不施P的NK处理小麦则有不同程度的减产:在褐潮土上减产15.86%,在红壤上则绝产.研究同时发现,在2种土壤上小麦增产途径有所不同,在褐潮土上应以增施磷肥和提高小麦的单位面积穗数为主,而红壤则以增施有机肥和提高小麦的穗粒数为主.     

Variable rate nitrogen fertilizer response in wheat using remote sensing

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application can lead to increased crop yields but its use efficiency remains generally low which can cause environmental problems related to nitrate leaching as well as nitrous oxide emissions to the atmosphere. The objectives of this study were to: (i) to demonstrate that properly identified variable rates of N fertilizer lead to higher use efficiency and (ii) to evaluate the capability of high spectral resolution satellite to detect within-field crop N response using vegetation indices. This study evaluated three N fertilizer rates (30, 70, and 90 kg N ha^?1) and their response on durum wheat yield across the field. Fertilizer rates were identified through the adoption of the SALUS crop model, in addition to a spatial and temporal analysis of observed wheat grain yield maps. Hand-held and high spectral resolution satellite remote sensing data were collected before and after a spring side dress fertilizer application with FieldSpec, HandHeld Pro^® and RapidEye?, respectively. Twenty-four vegetation indices were compared to evaluate yield performance. Stable zones within the field were defined by analyzing the spatial stability of crop yield of the previous 5 years (Basso et al. in Eur J Agron 51: 5, 2013). The canopy chlorophyll content index (CCCI) discriminated crop N response with an overall accuracy of 71 %, which allowed assessment of the efficiency of the second N application in a spatial context across each management zone. The CCCI derived from remotely sensed images acquired before and after N fertilization proved useful in understanding the spatial response of crops to N fertilization. Spectral data collected with a handheld radiometer on 100 grid points were used to validate spectral data from remote sensing images in the same locations and to verify the efficacy of the correction algorithms of the raw data. This procedure was presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the satellite data when compared to the handheld data. Variable rate N increased nitrogen use efficiency with differences that can have significant implication to the N₂O emissions, nitrate leaching, and farmer’s profit.     

华北平原不同施氮量与施肥模式对作物产量与氮肥利用率的影响

合理施肥是保证作物高产、减少面源污染的重要措施，以华北平原为研究区域，基于7个长期施肥试验，探讨不同施氮量及施肥模式（不施肥CK、化肥NPK、有机肥M、有机无机配施NPKM）对作物产量及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明，作物产量与施肥量之间整体呈抛物线趋势，作物产量最高值均出现在NPKM处理。不同施肥模式对作物产量有一定影响，NPKM与NPK处理小麦产量无显著差异，且显著高于M、CK处理；NPKM、NPK、M处理玉米产量无显著差异，均显著高于CK处理。氮肥利用率随着施氮量增加呈下降趋势，不同施肥模式对氮肥利用率有一定影响，小麦季NPKM与NPK处理氮肥利用率无显著差异，且高于M处理，玉米季NPKM、NPK、M处理之间氮肥利用率均无显著差异。综合分析施氮量与有机肥替代率两因素对小麦产量的影响，在华北平原，利用有机肥替代化肥潜力可观，且不会显著降低作物产量，甚至增产，但为避免显著减产，在考虑提高有机肥替代率时，需要满足总施氮量的需求。     

Estimation of vertical distribution of chlorophyll concentration by bi-directional canopy reflectance spectra in winter wheat

An effective technique to measure foliage chlorophyll concentration (Chl) at a large scale and within a short time could be a powerful tool to determine fertilization amount for crop management. The objective of this study was to investigate the inversion of foliage Chl vertical-layer distribution by bi-directional reflectance difference function (BRDF) data, so as to provide a theoretical basis for monitoring the growth and development of winter wheat and for providing guidance on the application of fertilizer. Remote sensing could provide a powerful tool for large-area estimation of Chl. Because of the vertical distribution of leaves in a wheat stem, Chl vertical distribution characteristics show an obvious decreasing trend from the top of the canopy to the ground surface. The ratio of transformed chlorophyll absorption reflectance index (TCARI) to optimized soil adjusted vegetation index (OSAVI) was called the canopy chlorophyll inversion index (CCII) in this study. The value of CCII at nadir, ±20 and ±30°, at nadir, ±30 and ±40°, and at nadir, ±50 and ±60° view angles were selected and assembled as bottom-layer Chl inversion index (BLCI), middle-layer Chl inversion index (MLCI), and upper-layer Chl inversion index (ULCI), respectively, for the inversion of Chl at the vertical bottom layer, middle layer, and upper layer. The root mean squared error (RMSE) between BLCI-, MLCI-, and ULCI-derived and laboratory-measured Chl were 0.7841, 0.9426, and 1.7398, respectively. The vertical foliage Chl inversion could be used to monitor the crop growth status and to guide fertilizer and irrigation management. The results suggested that vegetation indices derived from bi-directional reflectance spectra (e.g., BLCI, ULCI, and MLCI) were satisfactory for inversion of the Chl vertical distribution.     

小麦专用腐植酸控释肥一次施肥效应研究

以河南省粮食主产区冬小麦为试验作物,开展小麦专用腐植酸控释肥一次施肥效应研究。结果表明:与对照CK1(普通小麦肥底+追）、对照CK2(普通小麦肥一次性底施)相比,在减氮或减肥16%的情况下,穗粒数平均增加0.4-2.6粒,千粒重平均增加0.8-2.5g,小麦增产6.1%-14.9%、增收1396.5-3018元/hm2;不同区域、不同土壤类型、不同品种有差异,但表现趋势高度一致。说明专用腐植酸控释掺混肥养分释放与小麦生长需求吻合度更高,有利于通过简化施肥获得稳产、高产。     

Inversion of Biochemical Parameters by Selection of Proper Vegetation Index in Winter Wheat

Recent studies have demonstrated the application of vegetation indices from canopy reflected spectrum for inversion of chlorophyll concentration.Some indices are both response to variations of vegetation and environmental factors.Canopy chlorophyll concentration,an indicator of photosynthesis activity,is related to nitrogen concentration in green vegetation and serves as an indicator of the crop response to soil nitrogen fertilizer application.The combination of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photochemical reflectance index (PRI) can reduce the effect of leaf area index (LAI) and soil background.The canopy chlorophyll inversion index (CCII) was proved to be sensitive to chlorophyll concentration and very resistant to the other variations.This paper introduced the ratio of TCARI/OSAVI to make accurate predictions of winter wheat chlorophyll concentration under different cultivars.It indicated that canopy chlorophyll concentration could be evaluated by some combined vegetation indices.     

A variable-rate decision support tool

Profitable precision or variable application of inputs depends on many factors; however, the inherent variability in a soil and or crop property and the relative responsiveness of yield to fertilizer inputs at different soil concentration levels are the most important factors in influencing economic gain. Generally, the greater is the spatial variation in the property influencing the input rate, the greater is the potential economic return from precision application compared to uniform application of an input. Based on a quantitative assessment of the spatial variation in soil properties that influence rates of input, a variable-rate decision support tool (VRDST) was developed to: (1) assess the potential profitability of variable-rate compared to uniform application and (2) identify the economic optimal uniform application rate if this is selected. The VRDST was evaluated using spatially distributed soil data from selected fields in North Carolina. Net return from variable-rate application and the economically optimal uniform rates are illustrated. Varying fertilizer cost, crop price and sampling costs greatly influenced net return from variable-rate application.