Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council

Project Description

This project will combine satellite photography, computer mapping, soil nutrient data and GPS technology to define field management zones and create nutrient prescription maps. The maps will be uploaded into the GPS of the manure applicator’s tractor to optimize application levels as per the specific zone requirements.

Project Objectives

To test whether the principles used with commercial fertilizer variable rate technology can be applied to manure application and whether producers are willing to pay for this benefit.

General Information

Performance Story

The project demonstrated that variable rate (VR) commercial fertilizer techniques can be adapted to manure applications. Although the project received positive feedback from producers on the methodology and agronomic benefits of this management style, producers had difficulty in justifying the cost of this increased management.

Overall, VR manure did not achieve its fullest potential (as seen from commercial fertilizer variable rate successes) because the technology used by commercial drag line applicators cannot efficiently and practically carry out this type of application.