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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #225650
Title: Crop Sensors for Variable-Rate Nitrogen Application to Cotton

Author
item SCHARF, PETER - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item OLIVEIRA, LUCIANE - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Vories, Earl
item DUNN, DAVID - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item STEVENS, GENE - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2009
Publication Date: 10/7/2009
Citation: Scharf, P.C., Oliveira, L., Vories, E.D., Dunn, D., Stevens, G. 2009. Crop Sensors for Variable-Rate Nitrogen Application to Cotton [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meeting, October 5-9, 2008, Houston, Texas. p. 671-2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton yield can be very responsive to nitrogen fertilizer. However, over-application of N can result in excess vegetative growth, which can delay maturity and increase the need for growth regulator, defoliant, and insecticide, in addition to wasting money on fertilizer that does not produce a return. Our objective was to calibrate canopy reflectance sensors to predict the amount of N fertilizer needed by a cotton crop. Six N rate experiments were carried out over a two-year period on widely varying soil types. Three sensor types (Greenseeker, Crop Circle, and Cropscan) were used at three stages (early square, mid square, and first bloom) and three heights above the canopy (10, 20, and 40 inches). The most profitable N rates for these six experiments were 0, 45, 60, 80, 175, and 200 lb N/acre. Applying these rates would have increased profitability by $43/acre relative to a typical producer rate of 100 lb N/acre on every field. All three sensors were able to give fairly good predictions of the most profitable N rate at mid square and first bloom, but not at early square. The visible/near-infrared ratio from a height of 20 inches predicted the best N rate with R2 > 0.5 for all three sensors and was the most consistent predictor. Our results support the feasibility of applicator-mounted sensors to control variable-rate N applications to cotton. Initial field-scale demonstrations are planned for 2008.