2014
Evaluation of In-Field Sensors to Monitor Nitrogen Status in Soybean Crops
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Dakota Soybean Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Hans Kandel, North Dakota State University
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Dakota Soybean Council
(n/a)
Institution Funded:
North Dakota State University
(n/a)
Brief Project Summary:

In recent years, optical crop sensors have been gaining importance to determine in-season fertilization requirements. Spectral crop sensors may be able to identify the need for nitrogen (N) in real time and to make appropriate in-season applications of nitrogen to avoid plant stress, thus avoiding yield reduction. Many commercially available crop sensors have been evaluated and tested with corn and wheat crops. These crop sensors have not been evaluated and tested with soybean production systems in North Dakota. This research was conducted to evaluate the use of the Ag Leader OptRx sensor for soybean production.

Unique Keywords:
#ag leader optrx active-light sensor, #crop management systems, #greenseeker, #nitrogen management, #spad meter
Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:

This study shows that the OptRx sensor has the potential to detect N treatment differences later in the season.

Further research is needed to confirm the use of the OptRx sensor for variable-rate in-season N application in soybeans. Also, more investigation needs to be performed regarding the response of the OptRx sensor with different soybean varieties.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.