Intensive Spatial Data Characterization: Spatial Data Relationships in Cotton Production

Intensive spatial data characterization (ISDC) is a method of collecting, compiling, and analyzing data to seek to identify and quantify relationships between variables important to crop production.Objectives of these studies were to (1) identify and quantify factors contributing to yield deficit in cotton production and (2) identify factors that may be useful in delineating zone management strategies for specific crop management goals (e.g., nematode control). The tests involve data collection of a comprehensive list of soil, crop, pest, and environmental variables throughout the growing season on a 0.4 ha (1 ac) grid resolution. Data was collected at the same positions (e.g., 50 positions) in each field for each site year of study. At the conclusion of a crop year, the data for a given field was compiled and used to construct regression models seeking to isolate and identify the factors demonstrating statistically significant relationships with selected independent variables.