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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192040
Title: THE FIRST STEP IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE: SAMPLING OLD FARMSTEADS SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF THE FIELD

Author
item CLAY, D - UNIV OF SD
item Kitchen, Newell
item CARLSON, C - UNIV OF SD
item KLEINJAN, J - UNIV OF SD

Submitted to: Potash and Phosphate Institute Guides
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2006
Publication Date: 3/15/2006
Citation: Clay, D.E., Kitchen, N.R., Carlson, C.G., Kleinjan, J.L. 2006. The first step in precision agriculture: sampling old farmsteads separately from the rest of the field. Site-Specific Management Guidelines. SSMG-43. Available: http://www.ppi-ppic.org/ppiweb/ppibase.nsf/b369c6dbe705dd13852568e3000de93d/4e2057722fafe7d185257110007c0f49/$FILE/SSMG-43.pdf

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many of the small farms that dotted the countryside a hundred years ago had enclosures where horses, cows, and hogs were kept. Manure from animals contained in these enclosures still impacts soil properties today, including nutrient availability. At the same time, fertilizer recommendations rely on the collection of representative soil samples. Aerial photographs stored by USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) offices provide clues to past management. The objective of this guide is to demonstrate the importance in sampling old homesteads separately from the rest of the field. In grid soil sampled fields located in South Dakota and Missouri, historical aerial photographs were used to identify old homesteads. Based on this delineation, the 80% confidence interval of 20 cores combined into a single sample was determined. By sampling the old homesteads separately from the rest of the field, the confidence interval of a composite sample was reduced by as much as 97% and the soil test phosphorus (P) levels were decreased. These results were attributed to excluding areas with very high P concentrations from the composite sample. Improved sampling protocols constitute a savings for producers because the soil test results are more representative of crop needs.