Key processes and properties for site-specific soil and crop management

Site-specific soil and crop management also is known as precision farming. It implies the concept of using information about variability in site and climatic characteristics to manage specific sites within a field with best practices. Precision farming also can involve decisions about tillage and residue management, crop seeding and cultivar selection, or water application and drainage. This chapter discusses the key processes that affect precision farming management strategies, the key properties that characterize the spatial and temporal variability in these key processes, and the role of interactions between spatial and temporal variability. It focuses on strategies to optimize crop productivity while reducing non-point source pollution through site-specific crop yield management, nutrient management, and pest management. In each case, the chapter highlights the major processes responsible for spatial and temporal variability, along with the properties that maybe most directly related to observed variations.