Using On-the-Go Soil Sensing to Precisely Map Key Soil Properties. Eric Lund Veris Technologies

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1 Using On-the-Go Soil Sensing to Precisely Map Key Soil Properties Eric Lund Veris Technologies

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3 Soil is the Foundation of our crops. Precision agriculture requires a soil Foundation: A precise soil map.

4 Soil Texture Soil OM Soil ph

5 Soil: the soil properties that can be sensed on-the-go Sensors: the science behind soil sensing Solutions: (answers) taking action is key

6 The Soil: Texture Sand-silt-clay: why do these matter?

7 Why it matters: Soil Texture is directly correlated with major productivity factors: Water-holding capacity CEC (cation exchange capacity) Rooting depth Action of soil-applied herbicides The Soil: Texture Nematode activity Loss of mobile nutrients Subsoil characteristics Buffering capacity

8 The Soil: Texture Corn yield Texture (Soil EC)

9 The Soil: ph Soil ph affects: Nutrient availability Nematode Populations Microbial Activity Herbicides Ammonium > Nitrate conversion

10 The Soil: ph 1 ha grids

11 The Soil: Organic Matter (Carbon) Soil Organic Matter Mineralizing N, P, S providing soil aggregation increases nutrient exchange retains moisture reduces compaction reduces surface crusting Increases water infiltration

12 The Soil: Organic Matter (Carbon) Each 1% of organic matter holds 233,748 liters per ha 2.5% Organic Matter: 584,371 liters of water 1.5% Organic Matter: 350,623 liters of water

13 The Soil: Organic Matter (Carbon) Each 1% of organic matter mineralizes kg N per ha 2.5% Organic Matter: kg free N 1.5% Organic Matter: kg free N

14 Soil Matters! Soil Texture Soil OM Soil ph

15 Sensors

16 Sensors

17 Sensors

18 Sensors

19 Sensors

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21 Sensors: Soil EC Soil EC Module collects soil electrical conductivity (EC) data from 0-30 cm and 90 cm depths. Veris EC 1996 Soil EC used since 1920

22 Sensors: Soil EC 0-30 cm 0-90 cm

23 Sensors: Soil EC Veris Tri-Depth EC 0-30 cm cm cm

24 Sensors: Soil OM Visible and Near-infrared (VIS-NIR) Spectroscopy 2001: initial prototypes 2006: production began OpticMapper Dual wavelength optical module 2010: production began

25 Sensors: Soil OM Soil OM Module Dual wavelength reflectance measurements: Red and IR Measures below the surface at a consistent, controlled depth. Brazil 2000XA Alabama Kansas

26 Sensors: Soil ph Soil ph Module: 2003: first unit sold Today: the only system in the world for mapping soil ph on-the-go.

27 Sensors Soil EC Soil OM Soil ph

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29 Sensor Maps Slope Curvature

30 Commercial users in USA MSP3 EC-OM-pH Total $ required: $ ,000 including tractor, transport truck, and Veris unit ha/day Typical charge/ac: EC-OM-pH $35-40/ha Breakeven: ~1500 ha/yr 4-5,000 ha/yr typical

31 Sensor Fusion

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34 The Solutions Use data layers individually and fused together in different combinations to guide site-specific management of key inputs. Nitrogen Loss Risk ph Organic Matter Texture: A Horizon Texture: B Horizon Topography

35 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Denitrification is most likely to occur in poorly drained soils. Contributing factors: depressional areas with heavy clay soils throughout the profile. Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER Clayey topsoil Concave VRN Yield Goal VRN N Credit AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE Clayey subsoil Leaching Risk VRN N Sampling Denitrification Risk

36 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Clay % Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN Yield Goal VRN N Sampling VRN N Credit Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

37 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Clay % Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN Yield Goal VRN N Sampling VRN N Credit Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

38 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN VRN N Credit Yield Goal VRN N Sampling Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

39 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN VRN N Credit Yield Goal VRN N Sampling Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

40 SEED NUTRIENTS Zone Sampling Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN VRN N Credit Yield Goal VRN N Sampling Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

41 SEED N Loss Risk Denitrification NUTRIENTS Highest Zone Sampling High Nitrogen Targeted Tissue Sampling Sulfur Deficiency Chelated Iron WATER AMENDMENTS WEEDS, INSECTS, DISEASE VRN VRN N Credit Yield Goal VRN N Sampling Leaching Risk Denitrification Risk

42 Fusions currently available: PrecisionSeed PrecisionSeed-T Precision ph Precision payoff-lime Precision ph-idc Precision sampling-ec inseason sampling Precision H20 Coming soon, Fusions for: Gypsum Herbicides Dual hybrid VR Nitrogen

43 Summary Soil matters it is the crop s Foundation. Precise soil maps are the Foundation for a powerful precision program. On-the-go sensors can generate precise, affordable maps. These maps can become profit-making variable rate prescription and scouting maps.