Site-specific management versus whole-field management of soil fertility aspects in alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

摘要

As agriculture evolves and changes, new ways are sought out to become more efficient through decreased inputs and increased outputs. Site-specific management (SSM) is an opportunity that needs to be researched to determine its role in agriculture. Technology is changing at a rapid pace. Research needs to be conducted to evaluate this new technology in order to make the changes necessary to continue improvement.; Evaluation of yield, ADF, NDF and CP using SSM of soil fertilizer inputs was conducted for alfalfa production under Michigan growing conditions. Lime, phosphorus and potassium were applied under two different management regimes: (1) recommendations for SSM were made based on soil samples collected within each plot, (2) recommendations for WFM were made based on the average of grid point samples collected on a 61 meter grid from the whole field. The small plots were 6.1 x 15.24 meters and located in areas of the field that were the most deficient in pH, phosphorus and potassium. Four locations were selected throughout west central Michigan.; In addition to production factors, an economic indicator was calculated to give farm managers and decision makers a means to compare SSM and WFM. Net return to fixed resources (NRFR) was determined for each treatment. The cost of sampling and variable rate application was not included. This allows farm managers to customize the equation to their own farm. The results in this study indicate that there is no advantage from SSM over WFM. In fact WFM produced the highest NRFR.