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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315562
Title: Regional validation of a high-resolution digital soil map using soil profile attributes

Author
item BOBRYK, C - University Of Missouri
item MYERS, D - University Of Missouri
item Kitchen, Newell
item SHANAHAN, J - Dupont Pioneer Hi-Bred
item Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken
item Drummond, Scott

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Digital soil mapping (DSM) for precision agriculture (PA) management is aimed at developing models that predict soil properties or classes using legacy soil data, sensors, and environmental covariates. The utility of DSM for PA centers on its ability to provide soil information to optimize crop yields while reducing input costs and associated environmental impacts from management activities, such as nutrient applications. The accuracy of the output from a DSM, however, should be quantified in order to assess how well the digital representations of soils match existing soil properties. Inherent productivity of a soil is affected by differences in soil profile properties, such as organic matter, texture, nutrient availability, or hydraulic conductivity. Therefore, soil profile validation is needed to support the efficacy of high-resolution DSM output for management decisions, especially at regional scales. The overall objective of this investigation was to determine the accuracy of a new, high-resolution PA DSM, termed Environmental Response Unit (ERU), for predicting soil profile properties. Predictions from the DSM were compared with independent point observations containing soil profile information collected at various fields across the U.S. Midwest Corn Belt region. Large-scale validation efforts are necessary to determine the accuracy, and ultimately the utility, of DSM products designed to better inform PA management decisions for producers.