Ken Coles M.Sc. P.Ag .
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Transcript of Ken Coles M.Sc. P.Ag .
Ken Coles M.Sc. P.Ag.
Sorting Through the LayersOf Precision Agriculture
Farmer Smarter Conference Lethbridge, AB, December 4, 2013
7. Satellite-based NDVI imagery
1.Producer knowledge
2. Aerial Imagery/Orthophotos
3.Soil Apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa) Mapping Sensors
4. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)
5. Yield Maps
6. Aerial Imagery from UAV –based Sensors
8. Ground-based vegetation sensors (greenseeker)
9. Grid soil sampling
Understanding Soil Variability for Effective Zone Management in Precision Agriculture – an evaluation of sensor based soil mapping tools.
• Multidisciplinary team of experts in precision agriculture, agronomy, soils, GIS, spatial statistics, remote sensing, salinity, economics
• Data collection: all layers, EC twice per sensor, field scale replicated response trials
• Evaluate multiple zones after the fact using field trial, conventional and spatial stats.
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f(x) = 0.329279990564237 x + 39.5336349542337R² = 0.0841116963590952
f(x) = NaN x + NaNR² = 0 All Fields Depth Weighted Silt (Outliers
Removed)
Silt ShallowLinear (Silt Shallow)Silt DeepLinear (Silt Deep)
Depth Weighted Silt Content %
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f(x) = − 0.118824078581209 x + 54.256233892652R² = 0.0231609874626114
f(x) = NaN x + NaNR² = 0 All Fields Depth Weighted Sand (Outliers
Removed)
Sand ShallowLinear (Sand Shallow)Sand DeepLinear (Sand Deep)
Depth Weighted Sand Content %
EM 3
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adin
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f(x) = − 0.231593042873098 x + 50.9831761212472R² = 0.0209438293250105
f(x) = NaN x + NaNR² = 0 All Fields Depth Weighted Clay (Outliers
Removed)
Clay ShallowLinear (Clay Shallow)Clay DeepLinear (Clay Deep)
Depth Weighted Clay Content %
EM 3
8 Re
adin
g
Variable Rates:
Nitrogen (lbs/ac): 0, 30, 60, 90, 120
Seeding Rates (seed/m2): 250 , 350
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Hand Sampled Wheat Yield (bu/ac) Field Scale Replicated Trial Mossleigh, AB 2013
250 seeds/m2Seed Rate
bu/a
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RTK > RTX > SF2=OmnistarHP > Ominstar XP=SF1 > Glonass > WAAS
Lessons:
• Trying to do anything with Ag GPS beyond auto-steer is like herding cats!
• Calibration is critical
• Accurate GPS is important for minimizing error
• Constant and reasonable speeds are required
• Soil moisture important, frost free window is small
• Veris more costly & slower but can add OM and pH sensor
• The devils in the detail!
Ken Coles M.Sc., B.Sc., P.Ag.General ManagerFarming Smarter #100 5401 – 1st Ave. SouthLethbridge, AB T1J [email protected]: @killerkencolesoffice: 403-381-5118cell: 403-317-0757