Utilizing Site Specific Soil Sampling to Evaluate Land Areas for Research. (5937)
Authors:
R.W. Cox* - Univ. of Arkansas J.V. Skinner - Univ. of Arkansas
Abstract:
One of the main objectives of research station management is to provide researchers with quality land areas for their particular project needs. The more data available about a particular area, the better it can be evaluated as to its suitability for
research. The development of GPS/GIS technology and the corresponding software has provided a fairly easy and very accurate tool for gathering data. At the
University of Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, a site specific soil sampling project was initiated to obtain soil data on all of the fields. The project was designed as a long term, continuous project to monitor the changes in soil characteristics over time. The data was collected using a Trimble Ag 132 GPS system and Farm Works Site Mate software. The data obtained from the sampling was used to evaluate uniformity of nutrient levels, pH, cec, EC and other factors important to the suitability of a field for a particular research project.
Additionally, the data was used to evaluate effects of land leveling, lime
applications and long term research projects. It was also utilized to identify problem areas in fields as well as evaluate efforts to correct the problems. In all, the data obtained from site specific sampling is a very valuable tool in day to day
management and evaluation of experiment station land areas.
Speaker Information: Ron Cox, Univ. of Arkansas, AAREC 115 Plant Science 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701; Phone: 479-575-2911; E-mail:
Session Information: Monday, November 1, 2004, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Presentation Start: 1:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 0436)
Keywords: Soils; Sampling; Nutrients; Management
