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Session #1408

Initiating Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture at UMES

Abhijit Nagchaudhuriα, Madhumi Mitraβ, Carolyn Brooksδ, Tracy Earlε, Robert Conryφ and Gabriel Laddγ/ Geoffrey BlandΨ

University of Maryland Eastern Shore/ NASA GFSC Wallops Flight Facility

Abstract Precision agriculture is a combination of modern technologies to improve productivity in farming resulting in environmentally friendly farming and higher profit for the farmers. It involves efficient farm management that utilizes technologies such as GPS receivers; GIS data bases; grid soil sampling; variable-rate application equipment for seed, fertilizers, and pesticides; irrigation; yield monitors; sensors for detecting soil fertility and weed populations; and remote sensing imagery. This paper will report efforts to initiate “precision farming” implementation and research at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).UMES is an 1890 land grant historically black university and it’s mission is consistent with the goals of the endeavor which includes (i) integration of advanced technologies in agricultural practices at UMES with a view to improve productivity with due emphasis on research, education and outreach; (ii) environmental stewardship and (iii) remote observation and analysis. While all aspects of “Precision Agriculture” will be integrated with the project, the initial phase involves (a) extensive data collection to record yield variability using GPS (Global Positioning System) integrated yield monitor, (b) correlating the yield data with the soil characteristics and other pertinent factors to come up with recommendations for variable rate nutrient application, (c) use of GIS (Geographical Information System) databases and maps to record and visualize the data to facilitate interpretation.

1. Introduction The Phase-I of “Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture(ECPA)” was initiated in the Summer of 2004 with the identification of a 50 acre plot of land which is utilized by UMES farm management personnel to grow wheat, corn and soy beans on a rotational basis. Traditional farming practices are utilized at present on this tract with uniform application of fertilizers and seedlings. No special irrigation or weed management techniques are currently used. The overall objective of the first phase of the ECPA efforts at UMES will be to develop baseline data via systematic record keeping, while continuing with the current farming practices. This data will be valuable in the future to

α Associate Professor, Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences β Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Sciences δ Dean, School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences ε GIS Laboratory Coordinator φ Lecturer, Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences (Aviation Program) γ Graduate Student Ψ Aerospace Engineer, NASA GSFC’S Wallops Flight Facility’s Observational Science Branch Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Mitra, M., & Nagchaudhuri, A. (2005, June), Initiating Environmentally Conscious Precision Agriculture At Umes Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15180