Comparison of Yield Data from Precision Agriculture to Spatially Distributed Soil Survey Productivity Index Values.

We used ArcSIE (Soil Inference Engine) software to model soils resembling those mapped by NRCS soil survey, for eight 12-digit watersheds in the Central Claypan area of north-central Missouri. We assigned the appropriate Missouri Productivity Index value to each modeled soil, and used ArcSIE to create a continuous-surface Productivity Index for each watershed. High-resolution, multi-year yield data from combine-mounted yield monitors allowed a comparison of the productivity index values with real-world agriculture yields. Discussion will focus on appropriate scaling for the massive amount of yield data now available, and how to best model agricultural productivity for practical application to commercial agriculture.