Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of yield monitoring equipment for dry matter and yield of corn silage and alfalfa/grass

  • Published:
Precision Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Whole farm evaluations have shown that accurate yield data are difficult to collect for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and grass mixtures and corn (Zea mays L.) silage fields. Additionally, on-farm research, a recommended tool for adaptive management, is hindered by lack of practical ways to collect yield data. Recently, forage yield monitors have become available on self-propelled forage harvesters (SPFHs), but precision and accuracy of this technology are unknown. The objective of this project was to evaluate accuracy of yield and moisture sensing components of forage yield monitors for use in alfalfa/grass and corn silage. Moisture content, mass flow weights, total area harvested and total dry yield per hectare were measured on 11 farms in 2013; forage samples were collected for truck loads, analyzed for dry matter content, and compared to monitor-registered dry matter. Truck weights were used to compare monitor-derived yield to actual yield on two farms for alfalfa/grass and three farms for corn silage. Moisture sensors estimated crop moisture content within 3.7 % DM for alfalfa/grass and 3.0 % DM for corn silage of the oven dry value. Flow sensors estimated alfalfa/grass yield to ±0.5 and ±1.1 Mg DM/ha for corn silage. When calibrations are done regularly, forage yield monitors can provide an accurate and precise measure of dry yield for adaptive management. It is concluded that this technology can be used when plots are large and large treatment-driven yield differences are expected.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akins, M. S., Dobberstain, M., & Shaver, R. D. (2012). Evaluation of on-farm forage DM determined by near infrared spectroscopy. In: Proceedings of the American Dairy Science Association ®-American Society of Animal Science-Association Mexicana de Producción Animal-Canadian Society of Animal Science-Western Section ASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Champaign, IL, pp. 279–290.

  • ASABE Standards (2012). S358.3: Moisture measurement-Forages. St. Joseph, MI, USA: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

  • Auernhammer, H., Demmel M., & Pirro, P. J. M. (1995). Yield measurement on self-propelled forage harvesters. Paper No. 951757, ASAE, St. Joseph, MI, USA.

  • Barnes, R. F., Nelson, J., Collins, M., & Moore, K. J. (2003). Forages: An introduction to Grassland agriculture (6th ed., Vol. 1). Ames, IA, USA: Iowa State Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase, L. E. & Overton, T. R. (2011). Management considerations for immature and frosted corn silage. Dairy Nutrition Fact Sheet. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell University. http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/pdfs/ImaturFrstedCornSilag.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • Czymmek, K. J., Ketterings, Q. M., Geohring, L. D., & Albrecht, G. L. (2003). The new york phosphorus index. User’s guide and documentation. CSS Extension Bulletin E03-13. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell University. http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/extension/PI_User_Manual.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • Digman, M. F., & Shinners, K. J. (2008). Real-time moisture measurement on a forage harvester using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Transactions of the ASABE, 51(5), 1801–1810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Digman, M. F. & Shinners, K. J. (2012). Technology background and best practices: Yield mapping in Hay and Forage. In Proceedings of the 42nd California Alfalfa and Grains Symposium, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA, pp. 138–143.

  • DLG (2010). HarvestLab-Feuchtemessung in Mais: Im mobile Einsatz auf John Deere Feldhäcksler 7550i (Moisture measurement in corn: Mobile use on John Deere forage harvester 7550i). DLG Prüfbericht 5913F. Groß-Umstadt: DLG e.V.—Testzentrum Technik und Betriebsmittel. http://www.dlg-test.de/tests/5913F.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • John D. (2012). GreenStar™—Forage harvester: Operator’s manual. OMPFP12075: Issue F2. Moline, IL, USA: John Deere Ag Management Solutions.

  • John D. (2014). John Deere HarvestLab™ and Constituent Sensing. http://www.deere.com/en_US/docs/pdfs/farmsight/HarvestLab_Spec_6_13.pdf. Accessed 22 Aug 2015.

  • Ketterings, Q. M., Czymmek, K., Albrecht, G., Gates, D., & Lendrum, J. (2013). Nitrogen for corn; management options. Agronomy Fact Sheet 77. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, NY, USA. http://nmsp.cals.cornell.edu/publications/factsheets/factsheet77.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • Lee, W. S., Burks, T. F., & Schueller, J. K. (2002). Silage yield monitoring system. Paper No. 021165, ASAE, St Joseph, MI, USA.

  • Martel, H., & Savoie, P. (2000). Sensors to measure mass-flow-rate through a forage harvester. Canadian Agricultural Engineering, 42(3), 123–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, P., Henderson, A. R., & Heron, S. J. E. (1991). The biochemistry of silage (2nd ed.). Marlow, UK: Chalcombe.

    Google Scholar 

  • NASS. (2013). New York crop and livestock report, January 2013. Albany, NY, USA: USDA NASS New York Field Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRCS (2013). Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard: Nutrient Management. Code 590. Washington, DC, USA: NRCS.

  • Pitt, R. E. (1990). Silage and hay preservation. NRAES-5. Ithaca, NY, USA: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service.

  • Pitt, R. E. (1993). Forage moisture determination. NRAES-59. Ithaca, NY, USA: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service.

  • Savoie, P., Lemire, P., & Thériault, R. (2002). Evaluation of five sensors to estimate massflow rate and moisture of grass in a forage harvester. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 18(4), 389–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, J. W. (2013). Silage fermentation and preservation. Extension bulletin AS1254 (Revised). Fargo, ND, USA: North Dakota State University.

  • Shenk, J. S., & Westerhaus, M. O. (1985). Accuracy of NIRS instruments to analyze forage and grain. Crop Science, 25, 1120–1122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shinners, K. J., Huenink, B. M., & Behringer, C. B. (2003). Precision Agriculture as Applied to North American Hay and Forage Production. In International Conference on Crop Harvesting and Processing, ASAE, St Joseph, MI, USA. http://agriculturalmachineryengineering.weebly.com/uploads/9/0/5/7/9057090/icchpprecision2003.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • Undersander, D., Cosgrove, D., Cullen, E., Grau, C., Rice, M. E., Renz, M., et al. (2011). Alfalfa Management Guide. Madison, WI, USA: ASA, CSSA, and SSSA https://www.crops.org/files/publications/alfalfa-management-guide.pdf. Accessed 28 Aug 2015.

  • Welle, R., Greten, W., Rietmann, B., Alley, S., Sinnaeve, G., & Dardenne, P. (2003). Near-infrared spectroscopy on chopper to measure maize forage quality parameters online. Crop Science, 43, 1407–1413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Grant No. 64817/A001), and a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant (Grant No. GNE12-039). Technical support was provided by Agrinetix, LLC in Rochester, NY. We thank the farmers that participated in the project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrient Management Spear Program, Animal Science Department, Cornell University, 319 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Emmaline A. Long

  2. Nutrient Management Spear Program, Animal Science Department, Cornell University, 323 Morrison Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Quirine M. Ketterings

  3. Agrinetix, LLC, 1634 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14618, USA

    David Russell

  4. Statistical Consulting, Cornell University, B19 Savage Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Francoise Vermeylen

  5. Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, 1014 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Stephen DeGloria

Authors
  1. Emmaline A. Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Quirine M. Ketterings
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Russell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francoise Vermeylen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stephen DeGloria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Quirine M. Ketterings.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Long, E.A., Ketterings, Q.M., Russell, D. et al. Assessment of yield monitoring equipment for dry matter and yield of corn silage and alfalfa/grass. Precision Agric 17, 546–563 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-016-9436-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-016-9436-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation