Getting Started: Variable Rate Seeding (VRS) and Decision Zones
Overview
Placing the right product on the right field at the right rate can help improve yield and maximize the value of your seed investment. This article explains key terms and requirements for creating variable rate seeding prescriptions in Granular Insights.
What is VRS?
Variable Rate Seeding (VRS) is a precise agricultural technology that can properly and accurately adjust the seeding rate to obtain the best agronomic and economic results for different areas of your field.
Continuous (flat) seeding rates on variable ground can potentially limit yield due to under-seeding or over-seeding. With VRS in Granular Insights, you can generate variable rate prescriptions for corn and soybean crops that can be exported for your monitor or shared wirelessly to your John Deere Operations Center.
To run VRS, you will need:
- A field boundary with a crop assigned to the field
- Decision Zones created
- A primary variety and yield goal for the field
What are Decision Zones (DZ)?
Decision Zones (DZ), also known as management zones, are similar areas of a field that respond the same to inputs. Defining decision zones allows for better input placement, lowering input costs and improving productivity, which increases yield on every acre.
In Granular Insights, there are two zone layers that can be used when creating your decision zones: Multi-Year Yield Analysis (MYYA) and Irrigation.
MYYA
A MYYA layer is created using several years (three or more is best) of yield data. When generating a MYYA layer, you can modify the Analysis Parameters to define the yield productivity classification for available yield layers. MYYA is required to generate new decision zones in Granular Insights.
Analysis Parameters
These parameters are used to define yield productivity classifications (average, low, high and variable) for available yield layers by combining selected yield layers and comparing to the average yield for the field.
- 96% to 104% = average yielding
- <96% = below average
- >104% = above average
- stability cut-off: over/under 80% (threshold at which normalized yield results are not considered average) = variable
Irrigation Layers
You can create an irrigation layer to identify areas of a field that are irrigated. With irrigation as part of your decision zone, you are able to set two different seeding curves for a product on your field – one to use on your irrigated acres and one to use on your non-irrigated acres.
Related Articles:
How do I create Decision zones and multi-year yield analysis layers?
How do I create a variable rate seeding (VRS) prescription?
How do I export a variable rate seeding (VRS) prescription?
How do I add or change the crops on my fields?
How do I add a planting plan to my operation?
How do I add fields to my operation in Granular Insights?