Precision Agriculture

Optimization of nitrogen (N) management in agriculture is key to addressing economic and environmental issues associated with N fertilization. The presence of in-field spatial variability makes the task more challenging. Therefore, it is important to be able to detect variability in crop N status within a field. A strong relationship between total chlorophyll content in a maize canopy and the crop N status has been well established. Recent research into detecting crop N status has focused on non-destructive sampling techniques. Non-destructive techniques focus on remote sensing to correlate with and quantify canopy chlorophyll content. Studies have suggested different strategies for in-season N management using remote sensing that monitor differences in crop N status by evaluating relative crop response to applied N. In-season N application practices guided by canopy sensors are yet to be explored in many crops grown in semi-arid western Nebraska.