- Part 1 - the process
- Part 2 - what the data is telling you
- Part 3 - the main uses
Today Chris is going to take you on a run-through of what some of the other uses are for your EM Survey data are & how they can be applied on farm...
...I touched on probe placement at the end of the last
post, so will continue where I left off. The EM layers are very useful for
making sure you have your moisture probe in the most indicative soil type if
you only put one probe in under a pivot for example, or if you have several
soil types it ensures you can put probes under the lightest, heaviest and
average soils, to make more informed management decisions on irrigation
application. The topography information collected at the time of survey can also be used for determining soil moisture probe locations.
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| Figure 1: Shallow EM Map with 3 probe locations in the different soil types. |
Where the land is undulating we can bring the elevation data
into the equation for probe placement to find a flat area in each of the
different soil types. We can also use a moisture probe in a dry land situation
for adjusting inputs to the season (such as fertiliser, re-grassing & de-stocking).
When conduiting the EM survey we are using RTK GPS to log
the EM data, this topography data and its derivatives are very powerful
information layers. We can create water flow maps so you can see potential
areas there may be issues for your Farm Environment plans, contour maps, and
water flow animated videos as shown below. The Water Shed model mimics a large
rainfall event, then over time shows where the water moves from quickly and
where it hangs around longer.
These Water Shed models highlight potential avoidance areas
for planting, especially for nurseries and high value crops, in areas prone to
heavy rainfall.
As you can see there are many ways people are using their EM
survey data, and there are many other uses tailored to the individual client’s
requirements. It is generally best to discuss with you your issues then we can
work together on using the data to achieve the best solutions for you.
For any more information or to discuss your requirements
give me a call.
Chris Smith
Operations Manager @ Agri Optics NZ Ltd
