Value of soil sampling and optimal sampling density for a variable rate seed application

Grid soil sampling has become one of the most popular and powerful methods to investigate soil characteristics in various crop input application experiments. Based on the recommendations of previous literature, farmers and researchers believe that a single sample per hectare is the optimal sampling density to generate the most statistically significant information on soil nutrients and physical conditions. The literature, however, does not describe whether the recommended sampling density is the optimal density in terms of farmers’ profit. A number of farmers and researchers criticize the cost inefficiency of grid soil sampling, while there is little research calibrating the monetary value of grid soil sampling by its density. This study evaluates the value of soil sampling in terms of estimated profit to farmers by comparing variable densities of sampling data from five samples per ha to quarter samples per hectare. To calibrate the net revenue difference of adopting different sampling densities, this research estimates the yield response functions of seed corresponding to the density of soil sampling data. The results of this study show that a point sampling per hectare could not be the most profitable density in an experiment. In addition, estimated optimal sampling density varies from field to field by the spatial distribution pattern of soil characteristics.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural & Applied Econ

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Hwang, Jaeseok

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bullock, David S
• Mieno, Taro
• Paulson, Nicholas
• Martin, Nicolas

• grid soil sampling
• variable rate seed application
• profit-maximizing density

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Jaeseok Hwang

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109441

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109441