Integrating Sensor-Based Management and Adaptive Management Into

Extension Programming.Brian Arnall

Oklahoma State University

Adoption of Tech in OK Have to give credit to OCES County Educators and Area

Agronomists’ who ran with the technology

2003 2003

2005 2006

2004

2003

2006

2004

Progress Time line 1991: Developed optical sensors and sprayer control systems to detect bindweed in fallow fields

and to spot spray the weed 1993: Sensor used to measure total N uptake in wheat and to variably apply N fertilizer. 1994: Predicted forage biomass and total forage N uptake using NDVI (Feekes 5). 1994: First application of N fertilizer based on sensor readings. N rate was reduced with no

decrease in grain yield. 1996: Worlds first optical sensing variable N rate applicator developed at OSU 1997: OSU optical sensor simultaneously measures incident and reflected light at two

wavelengths, (670 ±6 nm and 780 ±6 nm) and incident light is cosine corrected enabling the use of calibrated reflectance.

1997: Variable rate technology used to sense and treat every 4 square 1998: Yields increased by treating spatial variability and OSU’s In-Season-Estimated-Yield

(INSEY) 1998: INSEY refined to account for temporal variability 1999: Found that adjacent 4 square foot areas will not always have the same yield potential 1999: Entered into discussions with John Mayfield concerning the potential commercialization of

a sensor-based N 2000: N fertilizer rate needed to maximize yields varied widely over years and was

unpredictable; developed RI 2001: NDVI readings used for plant selection of triticales in Mexico. 2001: NFOA algorithm field tested in 2001, demonstrating that grain yields could be increased at

lower N rates when N fertilizers were applied to each 4 square feet (using INSEY and RI) 2002: Ideal growth stage in corn identified for in-season N applications in corn via daily NDVI

sampling in Mexico as V8. 2003: CV from NDVI readings collected in corn and wheat were first used within NFOA’s

developed at OSU. 2003: When site CV’s were greater than 18, recovery of maximum yield from mid-season

fertilizer N applications was not possible in wheat 2004: Calibration stamp technology jointly developed and extended within the farming

community 2004: OSU-NFOA’s (wheat and corn) used in Argentina, and extended in China and India. 2005: USAID Grant allowed GreenSeeker Sensors to be delivered in China, India, Turkey, Mexico,

Argentina, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Australia. 2006: Delivery of 586 RAMPS and 1500 N Rich Strips (using RCS and SBNRC approaches

respectively) in farmer fields across Oklahoma resulted in an estimated service area exceeding 200,000 acres and increased farmer revenue exceeding $2,000,000.

2010: Estimated that the N-Rich Strip was utilized on 400,000 acres in Oklahoma. Average increase in profit of $10/ac

Sensor readings at ongoing bermudagrass, N rate * N timing experiments with the Noble Foundation in Ardmore, OK. Initial results were promising enough to continue this work in wheat.

Dr. Marvin Stone adjusts the fiber optics in a portable spectrometer used in early bermudagrass N rate studies with the Noble Foundation, 1994.

1993

New ‘reflectance’ sensor developed.

Samples were collected from every 1 square foot. These experiments helped to show that each 4ft2 in agricultural fields need to be treated as separate farms.

Extensive field experiments looking at changes in sensor readings with changing, growth stage, variety, row spacing, and N rates were conducted.

1995

www.dasnr.okstate.edu/nitrogen_use

In 1997, our precision sensing team put together two web sites to communicate TEAM-VRT results. Since that time, over 20,000 visitors have been to our sites. (www.dasnr.okstate.edu/precision_ag)

00

10001000

20002000

30003000

40004000

50005000

60006000

0.010.01 0.020.02 0.030.03 0.040.04 0.050.05 0.060.06 0.070.07

NDVI F4+NDVI F5/days from F4 to F5NDVI F4+NDVI F5/days from F4 to F5

Gra

in Y

ield

Gra

in Y

ield

Perkins, N*PPerkins, N*P

Perkins, S*NPerkins, S*N

Tipton, S*NTipton, S*N

y = 1E+06x2 - 12974x + 951.24R2 = 0.89y = 1E+06x2 - 12974x + 951.24R2 = 0.89

00

10001000

20002000

30003000

40004000

50005000

60006000

0.010.01 0.020.02 0.030.03 0.040.04 0.050.05 0.060.06 0.070.07

NDVI F4+NDVI F5/days from F4 to F5NDVI F4+NDVI F5/days from F4 to F5

Gra

in Y

ield

Gra

in Y

ield

Perkins, N*PPerkins, N*P

Perkins, S*NPerkins, S*N

Tipton, S*NTipton, S*N

y = 1E+06x2 - 12974x + 951.24R2 = 0.89y = 1E+06x2 - 12974x + 951.24R2 = 0.89

The first attempt to combine sensor readings over sites into a single equation for yield prediction A modification of this index would later become known as INSEY (in-season estimated yield), but was first called F45D.

1997

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008

INSEY (NDVI Feekes 4-6/days from planting to Feekes 4-6)

Gra

in Y

ield

, Mg

ha

-1

N*P Perkins, 1998

S*N Perkins, 1998

S*N Tipton, 1998

N*P Perkins, 1999

Experiment 222, 1999

Experiment 301, 1999

Efaw AA, 1999

Experiment 801, 1999

Experiment 502, 1999

N*P Perkins, 2000

Experiment 222, 2000

Experiment 301, 2000

Efaw AA, 2000

Experiment 801, 2000

Experiment 502, 2000

Hennessey, AA, 2000

VIRGINIA (7 Loc's)

Cooperative research program with CIMMYT. Kyle Freeman and Paul Hodgen have each spent 4 months in Ciudad Obregon, MX, working with CIMMYT on the applications of sensors for plant breeding and nutrient management.

Cooperative Research Program with Virginia Tech

1998

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

y = 1.06x + 0.18 R2 = 0.56

RI NDVI

Predicted potential response to applied N using sensor measurements collected in-season. Approach allowed us to predict the magnitude of response to topdress fertilizer, and in time to adjust topdress N based on a projected ‘responsiveness.’

Fertilized N required to maximize yield (Lahoma, OK).y = 0.65x + 27 (CV = 62)

0102030405060708090

1971

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Year

Fert

ilize

r-N

(lb/

acre

)Discovered that the N fertilizer rate needed to maximize yields varied widely over years and was unpredictable in several long-term experiments. This led to his development of the RESPONSE INDEX.

2000

RI Harvest

Feekes 10

y = 0.0438e6.2862x

R2 = 0.75

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9Red NDVI

Bio

mas

s (M

g/ha

)

Feekes 100

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0 2 4 6 8Visual Score

Bio

mas

s (M

g/ha

)

N Fertilizer Optimization Algorithm (NFOA):1. Predict potential grain yield or YP0 (grain yield achievable with no additional N fertilization) from the grain yield-INSEY equation, where;INSEY = NDVI (Feekes 4 to 6)/days from planting to sensing (days with GDD>0)YP0 = 0.74076 + 0.10210 e 577.66(INSEY)

2. Predict the magnitude of response to N fertilization (In-Season-Response-Index, or RINDVI). RINDVI, computed as; NDVI from Feekes 4 to Feekes 6 in non-N-limiting fertilized plots divided by NDVI Feekes 4 to Feekes 6 in the farmer check plots (common fertilization practice employed by the farmer). The non-N limiting (preplant fertilized) strip will be established in the center of each farmer field.3. Determine the predicted yield that can be attained with added N (YPN) fertilization based both on the in-season response index (RINDVI) and the potential yield achievable with no added N fertilization, computed as follows:YPN = (YP0)/ (1/RINDVI) = YP0 * RINDVI

4. Predict %N in the grain (PNG) based on YPN (includes adjusted yield level)PNG = -0.1918YPN + 2.78365. Calculate grain N uptake (predicted %N in the grain multiplied times YPN)GNUP = PNG*(YPN/1000)6. Calculate forage N uptake from NDVI FNUP = 14.76 + 0.7758 e 5.468NDVI7. Determine in-season topdress fertilizer N requirement (FNR)= (Predicted Grain N Uptake - Predicted Forage N Uptake)/0.70FNR = (GNUP – FNUP)/0.70

Engineering, plant, and, soil scientists at OSU release applicator capable of treating every 4 square feet at 20 mph

Work with wheat and triticale plant breeders at CIMMYT, demonstrated that NDVI readings could be used for plant selection

2001

Training From 2007 to 2011 Regular trainings

for OSU OCES and OK NRCS NRCS EQIP supported the program. A few key producers spoke often at

meetings.

Est. Hourly Wage (Jimmy Wayne Kinder, 2008)

About 8 hours per year to put out strips About 8 hours per year to read strips. 80 hours of work over 5 year period Saved in fertilizer and application costs

over 5 years $384,000 $4,800 per hour In 2013 Kinder reported total benefit of

$1.1Million

Optical Sensors

Commercial Product Simplistic Low Cost Light weight User Friendly

N-Rich Strip Truly the most successful extension

project. WHY

VISIBILITY› Hundreds of locations› And results are visual.

2006-07 Ramp Program

The Original NRSView from Blarney Castle. Fairview Oklahoma

Commercial Adoption Crop Consultants and Custom

Applicators.

Moving forward Can there be more to Reference strips. Ramps have been tried.

Hybrid Sensitivity

P0902XR Hybrid

P1395XR Hybrid

Cody Daft, Pioneer Agronomy Services

Results

P0902XR P1395XR 0

20

40

60

80

100

P0902XR Treatment Comparison

Reference Hybrid

Sens

or A

pplie

d N

(lb

/a)

LSD(0.1)=28.0

P1395XR P0902XR 0

20

40

60

80

100

P1395XR Treatment Comparison

Reference Hybrid

Sens

or A

pplie

d N

(lb

/a)

LSD(0.1)=28.0

*Difference of 34.5 lbs/a N applied

*Difference of 44.5 lbs/a N applied

Cody Daft, Pioneer Agronomy Services

Results

•Across locations, use of crop sensors for corn N management on P0902XR (Trt 2) resulted in a $34/acre benefit compared to traditional N management (Trt 1), while there was a $17/acre benefit for P1395XR (Trt 5 vs. 6).

P0902XR P1395XR 1000

1020

1040

1060

1080

1100

1120

1140

1160

Income Comparison

ConventionalSensor Based

Nitrogen Management Program

Inco

me

($/a

)LSD(0.1)=NS

Cody Daft, Pioneer Agronomy Services

Continuous RS update Response Index values updated each

time the applicator passes over the strip.

N Cycle Model N-Rich Strip provides indication of the

N-Cycle For summer crops the NRS may be

slow developing, especially in high OM soils.

Is there a model that could provide net winter and spring mineralization and immobilization values?

Thank you!!!Brian Arnall373 Ag Hall405-744-1722b.arnall@okstate.eduPresentation available @ www.npk.okstate.eduTwitter: @OSU_NPKBlog: OSUNPK.comwww.Facebook.com/OSUNPKYou Tube Channel: OSUNPKwww.AglandLease.info