Greenseeker evaluation for surface residue estimation

        Date    
          1/31/2005    
             
Project Title              
  Evaluation of a GreenSeeker Handheld for determining Determining site-specific Yield Goals from Surface Residue and potential Site-specific soil OM estimations
 
             
Investigator 1       Investigator 2      
  Dietrich Kastens  RR 2 Box 80, Herndon, KS  67739    
   
   
   
Phone 7856269284     Phone      
               
Email       Email      
  dietrich@kastensinc.com          
             
Statement of Problem            
               
Establishing of site-specific yield goals in NW Kansas is an un-researched topic and our previous year's KARA research made in-roads in this area using a Veris rig.  This will be somewhat of a continuation on this previous research in that another spatially dense data set will be developed to better the relationship betweeen OM, surface residue and ultimately yields.
             
Project Objectives            
               
The goal of this research is to better map surface residue (as an indicator of productivity) in conjuntion with Veris EC data so that a better understanding of site-specific yield goals can be realized. 
             
Methodology              
               
During spring soil sampling of ground going into a fall crop, a Veris EC rig will be pulled and then site-specific estimates of soil water holding capacity (soil health) will be calculated using research results obtained in our 2004 KARA research project.  At planting time, a GreenSeeker handheld will be attached to the tractor to develop a spatially dense map of crop residue (a base residue will be determined using in-field assessments along with non-grain residue estimation tools provided from University research, this will then be varied spatially by the GreenSeeker values).  Following fall harvest, three spatially dense data sets will exist (Veris, GreenSeeker and Yield) for determining yields effects from estimates of soil water, surface residue and actual production to determine ability to generate site-specific estimates of Yield Goal appropriate to corn production. 
             
Expected outcome / Benefit to KARA          
In Western Kansas, the soil water holding capability has been shown to be highly correlated with crop yields.  As this capability varies spatially, this variation should serve to indicate spatial differences in yield potential, and thus yield goal.