Precision agriculture research in the Department of Agricultural Economics (division Agricultural Management)

Publications

Nell, W. T., Maine, N. and Basson, P. M. 2006. Africa. Part III: Current status, Chapter 17, pp. 465-500. In: Handbook of precision agriculture: Principles and applications, edited by Srinivasan, Ancha. New York: Food Products Press. ISBN-13: 978-1-56022-954-4

Maine, N. The profitability of precision agriculture in the Bothaville District. PhD thesis completed in May 2007.

Maine, N., Nell, T. W. and Lowenberg-DeBoer, J. 2007. The profitability of variable-rate application of nitrogen (Poster paper presented at the 16th International Farm Management Association (IFMA) held at Cork in the Republic of Ireland from 15 to 20 July 2007.

Maine, N., Nell, W. T., Lowenberg-DeBoer, J., & Alemu, Z.G. 2007. Economic analysis of phosphorus applications under variable and single-rate applications in the Bothaville district. Agrekon, December 2007. (Forthcoming).

Maine, N. and Nell, W. T. 2007. On-farm research for precision agriculture: the use of spatial models. Paper submitted to the South African Society Agricultural Extension (SASAE) Journal in May 2007.(In-review).

Maine, N., Nell, T. W. and Lowenberg-DeBoer, J. 2007. Precision application of nitrogen fertiliser: the Case of Bothaville. Paper submitted to the 45th Annual conference of Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa in June 2007.(Awaiting organisers' feedback.)

Maine, N. James Lowenberg-DeBoer, J., Nell, W. T. and Alemu, Z. G. 2009. Impact of variable-rate application of nitrogen on yield and profit: A case study from South Africa. Precision Agriculture Journal. Netherlands, Springler. http://www.springerlink.com/content/f86447265n141342/

Papers at conferences

• Precision farming: The way to success in agriculture
• A strategic approach to the implementation of precision farming principles in cash-crop farming
• Evaluering van verskillende metodes om bestuursones te identifiseer in die sentrale akkerboustreek
• Agronomiese integrering van presisieboerdery
• The aspects of precision farming
• Economic analysis of N and P applications under variable rate and whole-field strategies in the Bothaville district
• Precision farming: A user's view
• Equipment used in precision farming
• Articles available at: http://www.farmingsuccess.com/pa_research.htm

Dissertation

Zeilinga, V. 2004. Evaluering van verskillende metodes om bestuursones te identifiseer in die Sentrale Akkerboustreek. MAgric in Agricultural Management.

Other interesting articles

Ntsikane Maine: Personal experience of precision agriculture research in South Africa

Presisieboerdery kan werk, maar verg beplanning
Moenie bewarings- en presisieboerdery verwar
Precision farming with New Holland
Senwes steun unieke PhD-studie in presisieboerdery

These articles are available at: http://www.farmingsuccess.com/pa_research.htm

Precision irrigation in South Africa - Dennis and Nell

Possible predictors of the adoption of potatoes into a wheat-based cropping system in Mokhotlong, Lesotho - Serage, Nell, Makado, and Tolmay The financial aspect of organic wine grapes in the Vredendal district - Hough and Nell

Precision Agriculture Journal

Maine, N. James Lowenberg-DeBoer, J., Nell, W. T. and Alemu, Z. G. 2009. Impact of variable-rate application of nitrogen on yield and profit: A case study from South Africa. Precision Agriculture Journal. Netherlands, Springler.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f86447265n141342/

Abstract

The response of maize (Zea mays) to banded variable-rate nitrogen (N) application over a period of 3 years (2002/3–2004/5) is analysed. The experimental design alternated variable-rate (VR) and single-rate (SR) applications of N. The yield monitor data were spatially auto-correlated and therefore were analysed with spatial regression methods. The baseline spatial regression model defined in this study showed that the VR treatment, treatment by year, and treatment by management zone were statistically significant. Sensitivity tests were applied; the first showed that VR treatment had a yield advantage when soil depth was greater than the field average of 174 cm. The second test showed that the VR N rates applied were close to those that would maximise profit. Partial budgeting indicates that benefits from VR vary from year to year, but in this test VR was slightly more profitable than uniform rate application. Economic sensitivity testing indicates that farm size and the price of maize are the key factors in the profitability of VR N.

Keywords

Precision agriculture - Variable-rate application - Spatial regression models - South Africa

Full article