Zoning

Zoning is used to create VRA (Variable Rate Application) maps for differential seed planting and fertilizing. You can identify zones on each map and manually set an appropriate amount of seedlings or fertilizer for every zone. You can download the VRA maps as a shp. Zip file and upload it to the on-board computer to perform differential application. This way you can reduce expenses and use resources more rationally.

Zoning also allows you to save money on expensive “blind” soil testing. Thanks to the data retrieved from satellite imagery and vegetation indices, Zoning identifies plots in the field with higher and lower productivity.

To create the Vegetation and/or Productivity maps for any field, click on the Zoning icon on the right sidebar menu.

Once you are in the Zoning menu, select a field from the list.

You can select the field with no previously saved Vegetation/Productivity maps. In this case, you will be directed to the menu where you can choose the type of zoning you want to perform.

Or you can select a field with the previously created Vegetation/Productivity maps. In this case, you will be redirected to Your maps list of saved maps.

The icons for Vegetation maps and Productivity maps are conveniently different. When in doubt, look at the icons or read the title below the saved map.

To download any previously created Vegetation/Productivity maps, select and click on the one you need in Your maps list, and then click on the Download SHP button below.

To create a new map, click on the appropriate button below the Your maps list on the right side panel.

Once you click on Create new map, you will be presented with a choice: Vegetation maps or Productivity maps.

Vegetation maps

Use Vegetation maps to calculate how much nitrogen your crops require at the moment, based on the latest available image data. The color should tell you exactly which area is more problematic. Red color means trouble and probably requires the highest amount of N fertilizer. Green, on the other hand, generally indicates high vegetation density areas that need considerably less nitrogen.

To create a Vegetation map, you will need to select an appropriate vegetation index in the drop down menu.

Next, select an available image date.

Finally, select the number of Zones you would like to break the field into. You can also set the minimal area for every Zone.

Now all you need to do is to click Calculate

The calculation of Zones distribution across the field in the Vegetation maps menu takes just a few seconds. The result is the newly created map on the left and the Vegetation Zones menu on the right for variable rate application.

You will need to manually set the application rate for each defined zone by typing in appropriate numbers (depending on the system of units selected in the settings). The system will automatically calculate the total amount in the given units of measurement.

It will allow you to determine the precise amount of fertilizers to be used for each individual Zone.

Note: the green and red colors on the maps stand for relatively higher and lower vegetation. Green is higher than red, red is lower than green.

Make sure there were no anomalies that might have influenced the calculations by moving the Opacity slider to the left and to the right.

Opacity is set to 80% by default, because at this point any obstructions/anomalies will show in the image overlapping with the Vegetation map.

If you move the slider all the way to the left (0%), you will be able to see for sure if there are any objects in the image obstructing the view.

You can also clearly see where the vegetation on the field is visually extremely low or absent.

If everything looks normal, you can move the Opacity slider all the way to the right (100%), to view the Vegetation map only.

The final step is to download the map with the application rate amounts as a ZIP file. To do just that, click Download SHP at the bottom right.

Productivity maps

Productivity maps help calculate how much potassium and phosphorus should go in the areas with higher/lower productivity in the field. The red color corresponds to the lowest productivity levels, whereas the green color shows the area with a high productivity. This allows you to distribute K and P fertilizer more efficiently across the field.

Note: You can also use productivity maps to add precision to soil-sampling, focusing more on the areas that appear yellow to red.

This type of Zoning is very simple to perform. 5 different Productivity Zones will be automatically identified in the field. To calculate them, you only need to set the dates to create any period of time up to 2 years, and click Calculate.

If your field’s area is less than 2 ha / 4.9 ac, the automatic number of Zones will be not 5 but 3, to avoid visual clustering.

Calculations may take a few minutes. The result should look something like this.

You can use the map to understand how to make your field more productive. On the right, you can type in the necessary amounts of seeds or fertilizers and download both the map and the total amount as a ZIP file.

How to remove the saved maps

You may delete any map from Your maps list at any time by simply clicking on the delete basket in the top right corner.