Remote Sensing for Nitrogen Management in Corn

View the project final report

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn

Practices

• Crop Production: application rate management
• Production Systems: general crop production

Many farmers apply substantial insurance nitrogen to ensure a good corn crop, which leads to over-application, higher costs, and leaching. The farmer will use aerial photography to monitor test strips in the fields of cooperating farmers to see if farmers can safely eliminate the insurance application practice. Nitrogen will be applied to the fields at fixed rates, and the resulting color photos will indicate which strips, if any, are deficient. If any are, more nitrogen will applied to prevent losses. Outreach will be through a field day, farmer meetings, and through extension presentations to certified crop advisers.