Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 8
ENERGY SAVINGS BY ADOPTING
PRECISION AGRICULTURE
IN RURAL USA
GANESH C. BORA, JOHN F. NOWATZKI,
AND
DAVID C. ROBERTS
8.1 BACKGROUND
Precision agriculture involves the development and adoption of knowl-
edge-based technical management systems with the goal of optimizing ap-
plication of fertilizer, chemicals, seeds, and irrigation resources to reduce
input costs and maximize production. Precision agricultural technology
has the ability to spatially vary the rates of all inputs to tailor to the varied
production potential within the field, which can be gauged by use of geo-
referenced historical crop yield data. Variable rate technology (VRT) can
be used in both conventional and conservation tillage systems. Adoption
of VRT technologies can reduce fuel use, since VRT coupled with GPS
guidance systems reduces implement overlap during input applications,
thus saving labor and machine hours [1].
The US agricultural energy use has increased tremendously in the last
50 years and accounts for approximately 17% of total national energy use.
