Case Study of GPS Soil Sampling and GPS Nutrient Mapping for Fertilizer Required
Who was the GPS soil sampling for?
A Suffolk farmer wanted to optimize fertilizer usage on farm by having more detailed information on soil fertility across his farmland.
All fields pre sugar beet crop had GPS soil sampling with nutrient data translated into
GPS nutrient mapping of nutrient availability for nutrient management and fertilizer recommendations for sugar beet crop in current year followed by barley next year.
Example of GPS Soil Sampling data used for GPS Nutrient Mapping for P index , phosphorus index.
GPS Soil Sampling or GPS Nutrient Mapping for Nutrient Management provided the following information:-
- Field boundaries are digitally GPS data mapped to locate data samples and for later mapping of data - this is needed to present results within field map.
- GPS soil sampling involves soil samples collected from each 1 ha area of every field - a sampling grid is imposed on the digital field outline, lining up with tramlines if possible to enable more easy use of results on farm.
- GPS Soil Sampling involves 16 soil cores collected from each 1 ha area of field, these are analysed as a single sample.
- Soil samples analysed for pH, P, K & Mg at NRM laboratory, Bracknell.
- Results of soil nutrient analysis were plotted within field outline as mg nutrient/l field and shown as coloured maps - the deepest colours showing greatest deficiencies. For example a GPS Nutrient map for Phosphate is shown opposite.
- Fertilizer recommendations for nutrient management shown as maps created based on nutrient analysis results and cropping.
- The total fertilizer required is calculated for precision farming UK.
