Identifying management zones within cane paddocks: an essential foundation for precision sugarcane agriculture : SRDC Final report BPS001

Abstract

Variability in plant growth across spatial zones within sugarcane crops arises from the complex interactions of soil nutritional status, soil physical properties (especially soil texture), surface and subsurface drainage, seasonal conditions, soil health, pests and diseases, cane variety adaptability to soil type, and paddock management practices. BPS001 research has shown that no single GIS spatial layer is sufficient to identify and manage the variability inherent in sugarcane production systems. However, by comparing patterns within three key GIS layers, we have found a way to simplify the complexity among the factors controlling crop yields, and have found answers to the two basic questions driving the research: • How do satellite imagery and EM map patterns relate to variations in space and time in soils, soil properties, and sugarcane yield? • Are there general relationships between image analysis, EM signals, yield, and soil properties that are widely applicable within and between regions?