Sensor-based%20Nitrogen%20Application%20

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Sensor-based Nitrogen Application Converting
Research to Practicality
Brent Rendel Rendel Farms Miami, Oklahoma
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Response to Fertilizer N / Long-term Wheat
Experiment, Lahoma, OK
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Response to Fertilizer N / Long-term Wheat
Experiment, Lahoma, OK
After the FACT N Rate required for MAX Yields
Ranged from 0 to 140 lbs N/ac
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2004/2005 Wheat

• OSU placed 3-level nitrogen strips in 1 field
  (113.5 acres)
• Planting N 30 lb/ac
• ZERO additional nitrogen called for by
  GreenSeeker in February
• All other fields on farm received 12 gal/ac of
  28 UAN as topdress (15/ac _at_ 185/ton)
• Farm avg yield 33.0 bu/ac
• Test field yield 33.9 bu/ac

• Total Savings over 1700 on one field!

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2005 Corn

• OSU placed Corn nitrogen test in one field using
  various nitrogen levels (Check - 0, FP - 110, GS
  75sidedress, N-Rich - 300) as part of
  statewide research
• GS called for ZERO sidedress Nitrogen
• Farmer Practice and GreenSeeker tied for highest
  yield/acre (102 bu/ac)
• Highest profit/acre obtained was on check,
  closely followed by GreenSeeker

Extra 13/ac profit from GreenSeeker!
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2005/2006 Wheat

• Placed 3-level nitrogen strips in 38 fields
• Planting N 25 lbs/ac
• Topdressed at GreenSeeker rate plus 10 lb/ac of N
• GreenSeeker prescriptions varied from 0 to 80
  lbs/ac of additional N
• Farm avg yield 24.4 bu/ac

Reduced fertilizer expenses an average of 15/ac
while obtaining yields similar to other farms in
county over 25,000 saved!
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2006 Corn

• OSU placed nitrogen test in one field using
  various nitrogen levels (Check 0, FP 70, GS
  75sidedress, GS 0sidedress, N-rich 300) as
  part of continuing statewide research
• Both GS sidedress prescriptions were 37 lbs N/ac
• N-rich returned the highest yield
• Check returned highest profit/acre followed by GS
  (036) and FP

Lower Nitrogen use without lowering profits!
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2006/2007 Wheat

• OSU placed nitrogen ramps in 7 fields
• 175 lb N/ac nitrogen strips in remaining 30
  fields
• Planting N 25 lbs/ac
• Topdressed with 28 UAN at rate consistent with
  GreenSeeker prescription (0, 5, 7.5, 10 gal/ac)
• Farm avg yield Dont ask!

Applied 184.4 fewer Tons of UAN with GreenSeeker
vs. 2/ac of yield goal method saving 22.50/ac
over 39,000 saved!
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Case Study
Cropping history

• 2003/4 Winter wheat with 50 lbs N/ac at planting
  followed with 40 lbs N/ac topdress Yield 32.4
  bu/ac (1.7 bu above farm avg)
• 2004/5 Winter wheat with 30 lbs/ac at planting
  and ZERO topdress N (Yield 33.9 bu/ac (0.9 bu
  above farm avg) followed by no-till soybeans
  yield - 28.9 bu/ac (2.3 bu above farm avg)
• 2006 No-till soybeans harvested as forage hay
  yield 3.1 tons/ac (10 lbs of N/acre removed
  with stover)

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Case Study

• Surface soil test pulled Feb 2007 N 171
  lbs/ac, P 42 lbs/ac, K 73 lbs/ac for 150
  bu/ac
• Silage corn planted 4/2 with 50 lbs N/ac
  pre-plant
• Applied two N ramps after planting
• Sensed N ramps 5/28 (V7) with results varying
  between zero and 90 lbs/ac N required
• Applied 8.8 gal/ac of 32 UAN on 5/29
  (31 N/ac)
• 32 UAN cost was 0.50/lb of N

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Case Study

• Harvested 7/27 7/28 with a final yield of
  21 tons/acre!

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Lessons Learned

• Start slow
• Dont adjust your farm to the technologyadjust
  the technology to your farm!
• Question EVERYTHING
• Dont dig trenches just because the computer says
  it will solve the problem
• Believe your results
• Concentrate on Profit/acre vice Yield/acre
• Communication
• Communication
• Communication

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Resources

• Website http//nue.okstate.edu
• Brent Rendel
• 6504 S 600 Rd, Miami, OK 74354
• okiefarmer_at_yahoo.com
• 918-533-4081