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Assessing Spatial Break-even Variability in Fields with Two or More Management Zones

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Burton C. English ,
S.B. Mahajanashetti  and
Roland K. Roberts
Burton C. English
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
S.B. Mahajanashetti
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Roland K. Roberts
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
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Abstract

Farmers are interested in knowing whether applying inputs at variable rates across a field is economically viable. The answer depends on the crop, the input, their prices, the cost of variable rate technology (VRT) versus uniform rate technology (URT), and the spatial and yield response variability within each field. Methods were investigated for determining the range of spatial variability over which the return to VRT covers its additional cost compared with URT in fields with multiple management zones. Models developed in this article, or variants thereof, could be used to help farmers make the VRT adoption decision.

Keywords

management zonesnitrogenprecision farmingsite-specific managementspatial break-even variability proportionsspatial variabilityvariable rate technologyyield response variability
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , December 2001 , pp. 551 - 565
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2001

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