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

Hwang, Jaeseok

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109441 Copy

Description

Title

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

Author(s)

Hwang, Jaeseok

Issue Date

2020-12-09

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Bullock, David S

Committee Member(s)

• Mieno, Taro
• Paulson, Nicholas
• Martin, Nicolas

Department of Study

Agr & Consumer Economics

Discipline

Agricultural & Applied Econ

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

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

Abstract

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.

Graduation Semester

2020-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

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

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Jaeseok Hwang

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