Why differentiated seed in maize?
Site-specific sowing in maize has been used more and more widely in practice for several years. The underlying agronomic rules (better soils with higher water storage capacity → higher sowing rate, poorer soils with poorer water storage capacity → lower sowing rate) are convincing, and implementation is “problem-free” thanks to the widespread market penetration of modern precision seeders with the application map processing option.
Effects of differentiated sowing, OFR vs. exact trials!
When evaluating the effects of precision trials, both positive and negative results can be found in the literature when using this technology.
Differentiated sowing as a precision farming method is based on the heterogeneity of yield formation on the specific field and this can only be validly recorded if this spatial variability is specifically included. The classical trial system strives for conditions that are as homogeneous as possible, which runs counter to the logic of site-specific technology. By definition, OFR trials in large plots take into account the natural differences in the area. In the evaluation, high data densities through spatial autocorrelation, plus area-wide information layers and powerful geostatistical methods ensure meaningful and statistically reliable results.
Problem of yield recording?
For many years, the lack of yield mapping during harvest was a problem for OFR trials in silage maize. The current wider availability of forage harvesters with yield recording and remote sensing methods (multispectral drone, satellite data) has solved this “problem”.
What is being examined?
Offers for differentiated sowing are available from a large number of companies. Most methods use automatically generated yield potential maps from satellite data as a basis; we use a typical relative yield map of the field from the last 7 years (based on Sentinel-2). If available, the most accurate data basis for us is the recording of soil heterogeneity by means of a conductivity analysis (Top Soil Mapper, EM 38).
In our tests, we limit ourselves to our own product range and that of a second supplier; transferability of the results to other products is only possible through targeted additional OFR tests.
Test set up!
The trial system is realized by the automated trial planning of our colleagues from AgDoIT. Variety recommendations from breeders and/or farmer specifications form the basis for the variation in seed rates. The application maps are transferred and processed in the desired format via wireless data exchange tools or, if necessary, with a USB stick on the device/tractor terminal.
What next?
We accompany the trials with regular assessments based on remote sensing data (multispectral drone/satellite) in order to record and evaluate growth differences on a site-specific and temporal basis. The yield is determined by means of yield mapping and in parallel by remote sensing algorithms and then the trials are finally evaluated.
Ask us, we look forward to your tasks! We specialise in company-specific solutions, we value you and your challenges =;-).
Our contact details are:
arnim.grabo@exagt.de
+49 (0) 176 72588814, +49 (0) 34324 269737
andreas.schmidt@exagt.de
+49 (0) 173 352 8960, +49 (0) 34324 269739
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