Crop Production
Houston County OPTIMA Fields On-Farm Trial: Adam Temple
1 min read
Farm Overview
- Location: Creek Church—Houston County, Alabama
- Crop: Corn
- Planting date: March 28, 2025
- Variety: Delkab 68-35
- Area: 48 acres
- Row Spacing: 36 inches, single row
- Irrigation: Center pivot
- Tillage: Strip tillage
Objectives
- Determine if the identification of different seeding rates according to field variability will lead to better nitrogen and water management.
- Apply nitrogen fertilizer through fertigation to match crop nutrient demand and improve corn yield and resource efficiency under center pivot irrigation.
- Assess the economic benefits of this approach for farmers in south Alabama.
Treatments
This trial design is divided into two parts. The first part seeks to evaluate the response of variable rate seeding. The second part of the trial includes guided fertigation using N-Time, which uses satellite imagery and agronomic data to give real-time nitrogen recommendations based on crop needs on a single seeding rate to reduce excess nitrogen application. The following table outlines the different seeding rates tested in this trial, as well as the methods used to determine nitrogen rates.
| Variable Rate Seeding (Seeds per Acre) | Methods Used to Determine Nitrogen Rates |
|---|---|
| 14,000 | Grower's Plan |
| 18,000 | N-Time's Recommendations |
| 20,000 | |
| 23,000 | |
| 26,000 | |
| 28,000 | |
| 30,000 | |
| 32,000 | |
| 34,000 |
Soil Type
Field Trial Design
Activities
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- Soil core sampling for soil textural analysis at a depth of 24 inches.
-
- Measurement of the water volume collected during a uniformity test.
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- Panting using variable seeding rate technology.