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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199648
Title: GIS in precision agriculture and watershed management

Author
item USERY, E - UNIV OF GA
item Bosch, David - Dave
item FINN, M - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item WELLS, T - University Of Georgia
item POCKNEE, S - University Of Georgia
item KVIEN, CRAIG - UNIV OF GA

Submitted to: American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Proceedings
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2006
Publication Date: 7/1/2009
Citation: Usery, E.L., Bosch, D.D., Finn, M.P., Wells, T., Pocknee, S., Kvien, C. 2009. GIS in precision agriculture and watershed management. In: Madden, M., Editor. Manual of Geographic Information Systems. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 59:1169-1198.

Interpretive Summary: Precision agriculture is the crop based management of different components of the landscape based upon their specific yield potential while reducing environmental risk from the landscape as a whole. Recent technological advances including global positioning systems, geographical information systems, and computer based modeling are rapidly advancing the field. This book chapter presents an overview of the many areas of technology used in precision agriculture. The document is intended as a text for students and researchers who work in agriculture, particularly in the areas of geographical information systems and precision agriculture. The text should be useful to those working on applying the most current spatial tools to agriculture, particularly to precision agriculture.

Technical Abstract: The technologies used to support the agricultural industry have changed significantly in the last 20 years. While genetic plant and animal research have improved varieties and yields, the introduction of information systems and precision management techniques have allowed reduced inputs (nutrients, herbicides, and insecticides), increased yields, and reduced environmental pollution, particularly at the field and watershed scales. The technologies that have provided a base in these improvements in agricultural production and watershed protection include, the Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and variable rate technology (VRT) equipment. This book chapter documents the basis of these technologies and their use in precision agriculture and watershed management. Some of the other topics discussed include: coordinate systems, spatial scaling, soil mapping, precision farming techniques, spatial interpolation techniques, and watershed modeling. The information is intended as a text for students and researchers who work in agriculture, particularly in the areas of geographical information systems and precision agriculture. The text should be useful to those working on applying the most current spatial tools to agriculture.