Variable Rate Application of Fertilizer in Citrus

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Abstract

Spatially variable application of fertilizer to citrus fields is dependent upon accuracy of the input variables. The accuracy in determining a variable rate application map and the application accuracy are important. An accuracy model is described using a 3.6-ha Florida citrus block. The effects of boundary determination, interpolation method, and global positioning system (GPS) location errors were studied for determining a variable rate nitrogen application map based upon citrus yield maps. Accuracy models can be developed considering interaction among GPS horizontal accuracy, differential GPS (DGPS) sampling frequencies, and machine delay times of a hypothetical variable rate applicator for nitrogen (N) fertilizer application based on an application map. Parameters studied included five GPS horizontal accuracy levels, two levels of DGPS horizontal accuracy, two DGPS sampling frequencies, and two machine delay times. Two integrated models were developed which documented the effects of the parameters. Machine delay time was the most important factor, and GPS horizontal accuracy was the second most important.

Keywords

Spatially variable Fertilizer application GPS Machine dynamics Accuracy requirements 
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Notes

Acknowledgments and Disclaimer

We would like to thank the various supporters of this work, including the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council. The assistance of Professor J. K. Schueller, Professor W. M. Miller, Professor J. D. Whitney, Professor J. David Martsolf, Professor J. Wayne Mishoe, Professor T. Adair Wheaton, Professor J. A. Cornell, Mary Beth Freeman, Greg Drouillard, and Douglass Thompson is gratefully acknowledged. Comments on the integrated model from Mr. Ahmad Shokri Othman are also acknowledged. The mention of commercial products is for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Mechanisation and Automation Research CenterMalaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Electronics and Building Environmental SystemKuala LumpurMalaysia

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