Optimized forecaster farming: a new tool to put accuracy into precision farming

Non-Peer ReviewedFarmers looking at Precision Farming as a tool to better manage fields have found no real way to apply this technology to fertilization and crop production. The misconception between precision and optimization has lead many farmers to feel that the technology was oversold and not able to deliver more yield for less fertilizer dollars. Farmers required a tool to optimize the dollars spent on fertilizer to achieve the highest Net Return per acre. The PRS™ Forecaster is a constrained resource computer model that can forecast the yield potential and fertilizer response site by site through a field. The model was allowed to distribute $2160.00 of fertilizer N, P, and K across 54 acres in a way that optimized the whole field net return. This was compared to a control site where the same$40.00/acre was spent but on a best “average” blend of fertilizer. Field validation of this optimization proved that more net return ($19.50/acre) could be derived with reallocation of fertilizer dollars using the PRS™ Nutrient Forecaster

Factors affecting nutrient supply rate measurements with PRS™-probes

Non-Peer ReviewedThis poster includes background information about how PRS™-probes are used to measure soil nutrient supply rates and how factors of the soil environment influence nutrient supply rate measurements. The discussion contains research examples of the effects of soil moisture, soil temperature, and competing sinks as well as the effect of the duration of PRS™-probe burial. These effects are important to consider when interpreting supply rate data

Plant Root Simulator™-probes: an effective alternative for routine soil testing

Non-Peer ReviewedWith the current uncertainty facing the agronomic community, it is imperative for producers to have all of the necessary tools available for making informed decisions regarding crop nutrition planning. Considering that there are many indeterminate factors affecting the bottom line at the end of the growing season, it is prudent to manage the risk involved whenever possible. Utilizing a network of over 20 Field Service Representatives throughout Western Canada, Western Ag Labs provides an extensive one-on-one crop nutrition planning service to producers encompassing over 600,000 acres. Preceding any crop nutrition consultation, however, is the soil nutrient supply rate analysis carried out in the lab using Plant Root Simulator (PRS)™-probes. The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe the protocols employed by Western Ag Labs during routine soil analysis, including: soil sample handling and preparation; PRS™-probe analysis; and, the quality assurance QA program. Historical ranges of selected nutrient supply rate data measured in the lab using the PRS™-probes also are presented