Evaluation of profitability across site-specific management zones in irrigated maize production fields

The degree to which management zone-based nitrogen (N) management strategies increase farm profitability is not well established. The objectives of this study were: to compare uniform and variable-rate N management strategies across soil color-based management zones and to identify the most profitable N management strategy. This study was conducted over three site-years on large-scale irrigated maize production fields. Overall, net returns to the land and management ranged from 188 to 679 USD ha-1. The variable yield goal (VYG) N management strategy had the highest net returns to the land and management in eight out of nine cases. The VYG strategy resulted in as much as 127 USD ha-1 greater net returns to the land and management than that of the uniform strategy. The variable yield goal N management strategy has the potential to increase overall farm profitability.