Variable Rate Seed
Sometimes rather than working with fertility to achieve the results you are looking for in managing variability, it may make sense to work with the "seed". If you have a good handle on soil fertility levels, ratios, and overall balance, and you are still seeing variability opportunity to manage, maybe it's time to look into adjusting target seed rates to compensate for factors such as:
- Nutrient holding capacity and availability
- Seed mortality variability
- Slope and aspect affect on equipment operation of seed and fertilizer placement
The concept of VRT Seed would revolve around the desire to achieve consistently an Optimal Plant Density (OPD) to maximize yield and return. Seed goes in the ground and adapts to what it's seeing and feels once it's in there. For Agri-Trend, measuring soil based properties for VRT seed make the most sense. Top down tools like imagery will add some confidence to the decision and a great way to monitor in-season how the seed is growing, but to make the decision, think like the seed. 
So what should I use to do this you ask? There's a couple options weve seen that would work quite well. The first is topography and elevation - adjusting seed rate on the hilltops, mid-slopes, and low lying areas. Variability factors such as soil and water erosion, organic matter, and salts will contribute to your decision to variable rate your seed. So after an elevation map is generated connect a few dots, make 2 or 3 management zones, and target your OPD in each zone.
Another great tool for VRT Seed is the VERIS technology. VERIS measures EC in the soil and this can be correlated back to relative soil texture. Check out the relative soil texture map below and connect a few mental dots to think about how you may adjust seed rate based on this info. Hmmmm.. It kinda makes sense, hey?
More VRT: Fertilizer Pesticide Manure
