SSMG-42 (S.A. Clay, J. Chang, D.E. Clay, C.L. Reese, and K. Dalsted)

Using Remote Sensing to Develop Weed Management Zones in Soybeans

Summary:

Crop scouting should provide accurate, timely, and cost effective information about diseases, insects, nutrient deficiencies, and weeds in production fields. Approaches for weed scouting include examining edges of fields or driving across fields in an X or W pattern to determine weed species present. Often weeds or weed species are spatially aggregated and using traditional approaches usually will not produce enough information for site-specific weed management recommendations. Remote sensing can be used to guide ground-scouting activities and identify the extent of weed patches. Ground-truthed remote sensing information can be used to develop effective weed management strategies and monitor weed management successes and failures. Four critical decisions that should be considered to integrate remote sensed data into agronomic management include:
• Feasibility of using remote sensing as a field-scouting tool;
• Reflectance bands used to distinguish weed-infested and weed-free areas in soybeans;
• When to collect the remote sensed data; and
• Spatial resolution needed for weed patch detection.
This guide provides information to help answer these questions.

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