Mapping the yield to determine the management areas in the field

The amount of harvest of a crop may vary between individual fields, within a plot, and with each subsequent marketing year. The generation of mining maps is only one way to determine the so-called management zones. Zoning is an effective method by which the parts of the block that differ in productivity are grouped, the purpose of which is their correct management (fertilization, tillage, sowing rate).

What are Management Areas?

It is common to single out “stable zones” within the boundaries of a plot. They are distinguished by
yield, which remains constant year after year. Characteristic of these parts of the field is
Moreover, the amount of the crop is not affected by climatic conditions.
The determination of these zones can be carried out on each block where the yield is mapped.
However, an important condition is that the data refer to the same culture and that data are available for
at least three marketing years when that crop was grown.

The classification of zones from a map can be done in the following way:

Zone 1— high yield, stable over the years compared to the average yield at farm level
Zone 2— high yield, but varying in different years
Zone 3— low yield, varying from year to year
Zone 4— low yield, constant over the years

To qualitatively define the different zones in the block, it is relevant to carry out the following:

1. Collect all the yield cards you have (minimum of the last three seasons in which you have grown the given crop).
2. Make sure that the boundaries of the field coincide with the actual arable.
3. Be sure that the technical tool with which the maps are generated has been calibrated. The reliability of the card will depend on the quality of the data collected.
4. Calculate the average yield for each block and for the entire farm. This will help you subsequently differentiate the different zones.
5. If possible, obtain information from other sources (NDVI maps, soil maps, terrain maps). The more data you have, the more accurate it will be
the definition of zones.

In conclusion, we can say that the zoning of the fields on the farm is an effective way to manage the resources at your disposal, and we from NICKWe are always there in case you need assistance.