Using On-the-Go Soil Sensing to Precisely Map Key Soil Properties Eric Lund Veris Technologies
Soil is the Foundation of our crops. Precision agriculture requires a soil Foundation: A precise soil map.
Soil Texture Soil OM Soil ph
Soil: the soil properties that can be sensed on-the-go Sensors: the science behind soil sensing Solutions: (answers) taking action is key
The Soil: Texture Sand-silt-clay: why do these matter?
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
The Soil: Texture Corn yield Texture (Soil EC)
The Soil: ph Soil ph affects: Nutrient availability Nematode Populations Microbial Activity Herbicides Ammonium > Nitrate conversion
The Soil: ph 1 ha grids
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
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
The Soil: Organic Matter (Carbon) Each 1% of organic matter mineralizes 20-40 kg N per ha 2.5% Organic Matter: 50-100 kg free N 1.5% Organic Matter: 30-60 kg free N
Soil Matters! Soil Texture Soil OM Soil ph
Sensors
Sensors
Sensors
Sensors
Sensors
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
Sensors: Soil EC 0-30 cm 0-90 cm
Sensors: Soil EC Veris Tri-Depth EC 0-30 cm 30-60 cm 60-90 cm
Sensors: Soil OM Visible and Near-infrared (VIS-NIR) Spectroscopy 2001: initial prototypes 2006: production began OpticMapper Dual wavelength optical module 2010: production began
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
Sensors: Soil ph Soil ph Module: 2003: first unit sold Today: the only system in the world for mapping soil ph on-the-go.
Sensors Soil EC Soil OM Soil ph
Sensor Maps Slope Curvature
Commercial users in USA MSP3 EC-OM-pH Total $ required: $100-120,000 including tractor, transport truck, and Veris unit 100-125 ha/day Typical charge/ac: EC-OM-pH $35-40/ha Breakeven: ~1500 ha/yr 4-5,000 ha/yr typical
Sensor Fusion
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.