SSMG-43 (D.E. Clay, N.R. Kitchen, C.G. Carlson, and J.L. Kleinjan)

The First Step in Precision Agriculture: Sampling Old Farmsteads Separately from the Rest of the Field

Summary:

Many of the small farms that dotted the countryside a hundred years ago had enclosures where horses, cows, and hogs were kept. Manure from animals contained in these enclosures still impacts soil properties today. Most fertilizer recommendations rely on the collection of representative soil samples. Aerial photographs stored by USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) offices provide clues to past management. The objective of this Guideline is to demonstrate the importance in sampling old homesteads separately from the rest of the field. In grid soil sampled fields located in South Dakota and Missouri, historical aerial photographs were used to identify old homesteads. By sampling the old homesteads separately from the rest of the field, the 80% confidence interval of a 20 core composite sample was reduced by as much as 97% and the soil test phosphorus (P) levels were decreased. These results were attributed to excluding areas with very high P concentrations from the composite sample. Improved sampling protocols constitute a savings for producers because the soil test results are more representative of the crops needs.


Download pdf:


The complete set of SSMG's is available for purchase at the PPIStore.

Please see www.farmresearch.com for more information on Site-Specific Management Guidelines