Precision Agriculture for the Developed and Developing World.

Precision agriculture is expected to deliver production solutions for a world population nearing 7.4 billion people.  This paper aims to delineate differences and similarities between the developed and developing world and that dictate how precision agriculture will be used.  Nutrient management research at Oklahoma State University has provided instrumental knowledge needed to better understand and implement some of these technologies.  This includes understanding that both the developed and developing world will need to adopt practices that operate at the by-plant resolution.  Theoretical understanding that yield potential and nitrogen (N) response are independent will dictate whether or not sensor-based-algorithms are effective.  More advanced use of the coefficient of variation from normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) sensor readings, indirectly accounts for small scale spatial variability and can be used to further refine fertilizer N rates.  Homogeneity of emergence and plant stands remains important for both.