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INVESTIGATOR: Williams, P.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29634

DEVELOPING A SENSOR-BASED, VARIABLE-RATE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE FOR CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Crops in the Southeastern USA are produced in fields with significant variation in soil texture, soil type, and other factors which have a major impact on crop fertilization strategies. In this region, yield response to nitrogen application varies significantly across the production field. Therefore, blanket application of N fertilizer over the entire field can be both costly and environmentally unsound. Scientists at Clemson have successfully developed cost-effective sensor-based nitrogen application systems designed specifically for Coastal Plain region. During the past 10 years, irrigated crop acreages have increased significantly in South Carolina. However, currently there are no practical decision making tools or equipment available for variable-rate application of nitrogen through center pivot irrigation systems. Therefore, the primary goal of this project is to develop technologies for a sensor-based, variable-rate nutrient management program for center pivot irrigation systems, to provide site-specific application of fertilizers only where needed within individual fields. The tools developed/refined under this project are designed to lower fertilizer use, optimize farm profits, and minimize the effect of production practices on the environment. This Pre-doctoral project will help to develop the technical and academic competence of the doctoral candidate. Working with a group of multi-disciplinary mentors, this project will provide hands-on experience to him in basic and applied research. Also, demonstrating this technology to producers will help him to develop oral communication skills.

OBJECTIVES: To modify variable-rate irrigation application equipment (developed at Clemson) to allow for site-specific nitrogen management.To adapt our sensor-based nitrogen recommendation algorithm from single side-dress application to multiple split-applications through a center pivot.To develop correlations between NDVI measured using a commercially available optical sensor (such as GreenSeeker or Crop Circle) and those measured by an aerial platform (UAV) and low cost optical sensors (LCS) developed at Clemson.To compare sensor-based (GreenSeeker, UAV, and LCS) and conventional nutrient management methods in terms of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and crop responses on three soil types.To conduct training programs for growers, county Extension agents, and technology providers during field days and workshops at the Edisto REC.