Michigan Precision Agriculture Research – NCR-180 is a committee of researchers from land grant university experiment stations who are working in precision agriculture. Committee members prepare annual research summaries which are presented and discussed at a meeting in January. Below are abstracts of Michigan research presented to the group in January. Research reports for Michigan and other states can be found at: http://precision.agri.umn.edu/ncr180_Pawg/research/research.html

Extent and Impact of Surface Soil Compaction in No-till Corn Production - F.J. Pierce and J.R. Hess
This research, funded by the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, assessed how surface soil condition influences corn performance under no-tillage management by mapping the mechanical resistance or drag force required for planting under no-till conditions and correlating it with the corresponding spatial variability in soil conditions and corn performance. Specific objectives include (i) the evaluation of an instrumented "hitch pin" draft sensing system to measure and map mechanical resistance of a no-till planter during normal field operations and (ii) to correlate mechanical resistance with soil physical properties and crop performance including soil water content at planting, soil fertility, soil conductivity, penetration resistance terrain attributes, plant emergence, plant population, and crop yield at harvest. Field experiments were conducted in 1999 at two fields in Michigan where soils are mapped as Capac loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Aeric Achraqualfs) to evaluate the performance of a no-till corn planter under variable soil conditions. The hitch-pin system was developed by INEEL scientists for John Deere 7000 series tractors and worked well under Michigan experimental conditions. Field experiments will be conducted in two additional fields in 2000.

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Alfalfa Production in Relation to Precision Agriculture and Integrated Crop Management Systems - Richard Leep, Marc McNabney, Darryl Warncke and Roger Brook

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the value and utility of precision agriculture practices, systems and concepts in the production of alfalfa under Michigan growing conditions. Among the challenges faces by alfalfa growers are fertility management; variations in yield and quality (protein); variations in stand establishment and persistence. These issues will be evaluated by: 1) establishing the variability of soil properties that exist in typical Michigan alfalfa fields; 2) determining whether relationships exist in commercial alfalfa fields between alfalfa yield and quality and soil properties; and 3) testing methods for reducing the variability of yield, quality and persistence in fields of alfalfa using precision agriculture sampling and treatment strategies. This project was initiated in 1999, with three cooperating alfalfa producers involved. Digital elevation maps of each of the four fields have been made. Soil electrical conductivity analysis has been performed using both the EM38 technology. Yield mapping is being done on a point sampling basis, as well as using forage yield monitoring equipment purchased from T.S.I. LP (Sunriver, MT). Fields were scouted for pest problems occurring during the growing season.

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