AgTM 405

“Correlation of Yield Maps with Infrared Photography”

AgTM 405

Precision Farming Unit

The Advantages of Infrared Photography Correlated to Yield

Maps

• Shows potential yield reduction due to irrigation, soil type or fertility problems

• Helps in diagnosing combine monitoring errors that show up on yield maps

• Low cost - less than $.50 per acre

Madison Farms

Madison Farms• 3rd generation farm since 1914

• 15,000 acre farm

• Crops grown include: Alfalfa, Canola, Corn, Buckwheat, Wheat, Potatoes, & Peas

• 6,479 irrigated acres

• Desert acres applied with bio-solids from Portland metro areas

• Employs 18-24 people

Circle #17

Early Season Infrared - C17

• Picture taken on August 11, 1997

Early Season Infrared - C17

• Small future yield changes starting to show up

Early Season Infrared - C17

• Infrared with yield contour lines overlaid

Mid-Season Infrared - C17

• Picture taken on August 23, 1997

• Yield changes become less noticeable

Late Season Infrared - C17

• Picture Taken on Sept 4, 1997

Raw Yield Data - C17

• Yield decrease in Northwest corner

Raw Yield Data - C17

• Pivot road and planter skip

Raw Yield Data - C17

• Yield monitor malfunction

Average and Contour - C17

• After average and contour yield decreases show up the same as monitor malfunctions

Circle #3

Early Season Infrared - C3

• Picture taken August 11, 1997

• No center ring showing up

Infrared with Contours - C3

• Infrared not showing a yield reduction on the West side

Late Season Infrared with Contours - C3

• Picture taken September 4, 1997

• Center ring showing up

Late Season Infrared - C3• Center ring

showing up

• Ring caused by rotator sprinkler pressure set to high causing leaf damage to corn crop

Late Season Infrared with Contours - C3

• Picture taken September 4, 1997

• Noticeable ring showing up in the center of the circle

Raw Combine Data - C3

• One of the two combine’s yield monitors was not working correctly

Raw Combine Data - C3

• Slight center ring yield reduction showing up at harvest time

Raw Combine Data - C3

• Slight center ring yield reduction showing up at harvest time.

Average and Contour - C3

• Assumed low yield on West side

• No center ring showing up

Circle # 53

Infrared - C53

• Sand ridge shows up in the infrared

Infrared - C53

• Outer edge of the circle shows up in the infrared

Infrared with Contour Lines C53

• Yield contour lines show the sandy ridge and the reduction in yield

Raw Data - C53

• The sandy ridge and the outer edge both show a yield reduction

Average and Contour - C53

• Sand ridge shows yield reduction

Average and Contour - C53

• Outer ring of the circle shows yield reduction

Circle #55

Infrared - C55

• Infrared shows the future area of low yields located on the sandy ridge

Infrared - C55

• Infrared shows no future reduction in yield at this spot

Infrared with Contours - C55

• Yield map contours and the infrared show the same location for yield reduction

Infrared with Contours - C55

• Yield map contours and the infrared do not show the same location for yield reduction

Average and Contour - C55

• Large yield reduction in the Northeast corner

• Center pivot reversed before the reverse stops

Raw Data - C55

• Combine monitor error shows an assumed low yield at arrow

Raw Data - C55

• Combine monitor shows actual low yield at arrow due to sandy ridge

Circle #16

Corn Yield - C16

The Question is “What causes the low yield spot”?

Nitrogen - C16

• Sample date 2/12/1997

• Red area 29 lbs/acre

• Yellow area 85 lbs/acre

• Green area 141 lbs/acre

Potassium - C16

• Red area 368 lbs/acre

• Yellow area 501 lbs/acre

• Green area 634 lbs/acre

Ph. - C16

• Red area 6.8 p.h. level

• Yellow area 7.45 p.h. level

• Green area 8.09 p.h. level

Phosphorus - C16

• Red area 33 lbs/acre

• Yellow area 51 lbs/acre

• Green area 69 lbs/acre

Iron - C16

• Red area 5 lbs/acre

• Yellow area 12 lbs/acre

• Green area 19.9 lbs/acre

Magnesium - C16

• Red area 3 lbs/acre

• Yellow area 6.5 lbs/acre

• Green area 9.9 lbs/acre

Corn Yield - C16Rocky Out-Cropping

Circle #12

Raw Combine Yield Data on Canola - C12

• Lower yield shows up in the draw of the canyon

Average and Contour Canola C12

Circle #21

Raw Combine Data - C21

• Lower yield shows up across the center of the circle

Average and Contour - C21

Potassium - C21

Nitrogen - C21

Phosphorus - C21

Sulfur - C21

Summarizing the Advantages of Infrared Photography

• Shows potential yield reduction due to irrigation, soil type or fertility problems

• Helps in diagnosing combine monitoring errors that show up on yield maps

• Low cost - less than $.50 per acre