Development of Management Zones for Site-Specific Fertilization in Mustard Fields

Abstract

Smart-farming practices can help to overcome the impacts of soil and crop variability on crop yield. This article studies the impact of fertilization treatment on the production of a major oilseed crop, mustard (Brassica campestris L.), in an arid region of Pakistan. Soil-nutrient sampling was performed, using 20 × 20 m grids to characterize and quantify the variation of mustard yield and soil nutrients. Based on the results of a significant correlation between yield and soil nutrients, management zones (MZs) were developed that use Variable Rate Fertilization (VRF) to increase crop production and profitability while reducing environmental risk.

Keywords

• smart farming
• spatial variability
• management zones
• Variable Rate Fertilization
• arid