Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Dryland Cotton Using Precision Agriculture Technologies in the Southern High Plains

Abstract:

Nitrogen (N) plays a crucial role in crop growth, yield and quality. Nitrogen exists in the soil system in many forms and its spatial and temporal distributions are affected by many interactive factors. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nitrogen spatial and temporal dynamics as affected by soil and other environmental factors, and explore the relationship between the spatial variability of soil nitrogen and cotton yield in dryland cotton. A total of 256 soil samples from three layers (at soil depths of 0-5cm, 5-15cm and 15-30cm) were collected to measure soil nitrogen, texture, EC, pH in the Southern High Plains of Texas. An unmanned aerial system (UAS) with RTK signal was utilized to collect the topography data (elevation, slope, aspect, etc.) in the study field. Both measured and UAS-derived data were used to analyze and evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics of soil nitrogen in the upper three soil layers and the relationship between N and cotton yield in a dryland cotton production system.