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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123359
Title: EVALUATION OF POTATO YIELD MONITORING ON COMMERCIAL FIELDS

Author
item DAVENPORT, J - WSU PROSSER
item REDULLA, C - WSU PROSSER
item HATTENDORF, J - VANTAGE PT FT COLLINS CO
item Evans, Robert
item Boydston, Rick

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: Davenport, J.R., Redulla, C.A., Hattendorf, J.J., Evans, R.G., Boydston, R.A. 2001. Evaluation of potato yield monitoring on commercial fields. HortScience. 36:539, Abstract #185.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An accurate yield map is imperative for successful precision farming. From 1998 to 2000, at least two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) fields on a commercial farm in southeastern Washington were yield-monitored using commercial yield monitoring equipment without digger operator interaction. Different fields were monitored each year. Multiple potato diggers were used to harvest the fields and the diggers used were not necessarily the same at each harvest. In all years, yield monitoring data was missing from some part of the fields due to equipment failure or not having yield monitoring equipment installed on all potato diggers. In 1998, extensive "banding" was observed on at least one circle where adjacent rows gave dissimilar ranges of yield monitor values, likely due to dissimilar calibrations. Banding was also observed in 2000 when the yield monitoring equipment installed on each of the three diggers performed differently. We found that some yield monitor data need minimal post-processing or correction, while other yield monitor data need substantial post-processing to make them usable, while still other yield monitor data may not be reliable due to equipment failure or other causes. Overall, when multiple diggers, hence multiple yield monitors, are used for potato harvest, it is necessary that all yield monitoring systems are properly calibrated. However, even with the proper calibration before harvest, it is still likely that the potato yield monitor data will need differential post-processing.