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The economic potential of precision nitrogen application with wheat based on plant sensing

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  • Jon T. Biermacher
  • B. Wade Brorsen
  • Francis M. Epplin
  • John B. Solie
  • William R. Raun

Abstract

Plant‐based precision nitrogen fertilizer application technologies have been developed as a way to predict and precisely meet nitrogen needs. Equipment necessary for precision application of nitrogen, based on sensing of growing wheat plants in late winter, is available commercially, but adoption has been slow. This article determines the expected profit from using a plant‐sensing system to determine winter wheat nitrogen requirements. We find that plant‐sensing systems have the potential to be more profitable than traditional nonprecise systems, but the existing system simulated was roughly breakeven with a traditional system.

Suggested Citation

  • Jon T. Biermacher & B. Wade Brorsen & Francis M. Epplin & John B. Solie & William R. Raun, 2009. "The economic potential of precision nitrogen application with wheat based on plant sensing," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 40(4), pages 397-407, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:40:y:2009:i:4:p:397-407
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2009.00387.x
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    8. Simeon Kaitibie & William E. Nganje & B. Wade Brorsen & Francis M. Epplin, 2007. "A Cox Parametric Bootstrap Test of the von Liebig Hypotheses," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 55(1), pages 15-25, March.
    9. Gelson Tembo & B. Wade Brorsen & Francis M. Epplin & Emílio Tostão, 2008. "Crop Input Response Functions with Stochastic Plateaus," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 90(2), pages 424-434.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ng'ombe, John, 2019. "Economics of the Greenseeder Hand Planter, Discrete Choice Modeling, and On-Farm Field Experimentation," Thesis Commons jckt7_v1, Center for Open Science.
    2. Harmon, Xavier & Boyer, Christopher N. & Lambert, Dayton M. & Larson, James A., 2017. "Temporal Frequency Of Soil Test Information Effects On Returns To Potassium Fertilization In Cotton Production," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(2), pages 251-272, May.
    3. Asmaa Mourhir & Elpiniki I. Papageorgiou & Konstantinos Kokkinos & Tajjeeddine Rachidi, 2017. "Exploring Precision Farming Scenarios Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Elizabeth Canales & Jason S. Bergtold & Jeffery R. Williams, 2020. "Conservation practice complementarity and timing of on‐farm adoption," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(5), pages 777-792, September.
    5. McFadden, Brandon R. & Brorsen, B. Wade, 2015. "Pr - Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations Based On Precision Sensing And Bayesian Updating," 20th Congress, Quebec, Canada, 2015 345756, International Farm Management Association.
    6. Späti, Karin & Huber, Robert & Finger, Robert, 2021. "Benefits of Increasing Information Accuracy in Variable Rate Technologies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Wang, Tong & Jin, Hailong & Sieverding, Heidi L. & Rao, Xudong & Miao, Yuxin & Kumar, Sandeep & Redfearn, Daren & Nafchi, Ali, 2022. "Understanding farmer perceptions of precision agriculture profitability in the U.S. Midwest," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322502, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Tumusiime, Emmanuel & Brorsen, B. Wade & Mosali, Jagadeesh & Johnson, Jim & Locke, James & Biermacher, Jon T., 2011. "Determining Optimal Levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer Using Random Parameter Models," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 43(4), pages 1-12, November.
    9. Baveye, Philippe C. & Laba, Magdeline, 2015. "Moving away from the geostatistical lamppost: Why, where, and how does the spatial heterogeneity of soils matter?," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 298(C), pages 24-38.
    10. Biermacher, Jon T. & Haque, Mohua & Kering, Maru K. & Guretzky, John A., 2013. "PR - Economic Costs Of Soil Nutrient Mining And Benefits From Plant Nutrient Recycling: The Case Of Switchgrass Produced For Bioenergy Feedstock," 19th Congress, Warsaw, Poland, 2013 345659, International Farm Management Association.
    11. Ng'ombe, John, 2019. "Economics of the Greenseeder Hand Planter, Discrete Choice Modeling, and On-Farm Field Experimentation," Thesis Commons jckt7, Center for Open Science.
    12. Elisa Fischetti & Claudio Beni & Enrico Santangelo & Marco Bascietto, 2025. "Agroecology and Precision Agriculture as Combined Approaches to Increase Field-Scale Crop Resilience and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Wang, Tong & Jin, Hailong & Sieverding, Heidi & Kumar, Sandeep & Miao, Yuxin & Rao, Xudong & Obembe, Oladipo & Mirzakhani Nafchi, Ali & Redfearn, Daren & Cheye, Stephen, 2023. "Understanding farmer views of precision agriculture profitability in the U.S. Midwest," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).

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