Method and system for spatially variable rate application of agricultural chemicals based on remotely sensed vegetation data

A method for controlling application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field comprising:

• acquiring remotely sensed digital spectral data which characterizes currently existing conditions of said crop throughout said field;
• processing said multispectral digital data to generate a digital map of said field, which map characterizes spatially differentiated existing growth vigor of said crop within said field;
• generating a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes said crop throughout said field;
• entering said data set into a computer;
• entering information into said computer that is indicative of observed crop conditions at selected locations within said field and correlating said information with data in said data set;
• and
• applying agricultural inputs to said crop at an application rate which varies specially throughout said field as a function of spatially distributed current crop vigor based on information contained in said map.

A system for application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field, comprising:

• means for obtaining digital image data that characterize spatial variation of currently existing growth vigor of said crop at a point in time;
• centrally located data processing means for processing said digital image data to provide a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes currently existing growth vigor of said crop throughout said field at said point in time, and for storing and communicating said data set;
• a first communication medium for transmitting said spatially distributed vegetation index data to an on-site location in proximity to said field;
• and
• a portable processor programmed to receive and display said spatially distributed vegetation index data, receive entry of localized crop information at predetermined points in said field based on a physical on-site inspection, and prepare prescription requests based on currently existing growth vigor of said crop as defined in said spatially distributed vegetation index data, said localized crop information and inputs by personnel situated at said on-site location;
• wherein said centrally located data processing means includes means for generating a prescription in response to said prescription request, and a second communication medium for communicating said prescription to said controller;
• a control unit which is programmed to control spatial variation of an application rate of said agricultural inputs by a spray rig, as a function of said currently existing growth vigor of said crop.