A FEW hours spent fiddling with computers and global positioning systems could lead to savings in fertiliser next year.
SPAA-Precision Agriculture Association president Mark Branson said he would spend about an hour setting up his yield mapping system, GPS and computer to make sure the data he gathered during harvest was reliable.
The South Australian grain grower said his yield maps showed the history of inputs and yields in the paddock.
"There's a lot of information, so we don't want to stuff up the mapping," Mr Branson said.
He said the header needed to be set up and the GPS calibrated so the maps were accurate.
"If the GPS is wrong, then the maps will be incorrect," Mr Branson said.
"Older types, like myself, will be getting other people to help out in setting it up."
Mr Branson said he wanted to find out where the high and low-yielding parts of the paddock were and compare it from year to year.
"I'm interested in the low-yielding patches," he said.
"I use the information to show me where to apply fertiliser."
Mr Branson said phosphorus was linked with yield, so the maps helped to show where phosphorus should be added.
"I've saved a third of phosphorus by comparing yield maps," he said.
Mr Branson said the water-holding capacity of the soil was very important to the success of the crop.
