Redundant variables and the quality of management zones

Abstract

Precision agriculture (PA) allows farmers to identify and address variations in an agriculture field. Management zones (MZs) make PA more feasible and economical. The most important method for defining MZs is a fuzzy C-means algorithm, but selecting the variable for use as the input layer in the fuzzy process is problematic. BAZZI et al. (2013) used Moran's bivariate spatial autocorrelation statistic to identify variables that are spatially correlated with yield while employing spatial autocorrelation. BAZZI et al. (2013) proposed that all redundant variables be eliminated and that the remaining variables would be considered appropriate on the MZ generation process. Thus, the objective of this work, a study case, was to test the hypothesis that redundant variables can harm the MZ delineation process. BAZZI This work was conducted in a 19.6-ha commercial field, and 15 MZ designs were generated by a fuzzy C-means algorithm and divided into two to five classes. Each design used a different composition of variables, including copper, silt, clay, and altitude. Some combinations of these variables produced superior MZs. None of the variable combinations produced statistically better performance that the MZ generated with no redundant variables. Thus, the other redundant variables can be discredited. The design with all variables did not provide a greater separation and organization of data among MZ classes and was not recommended.KEYWORDS: precision agriculture, spatial correlation, relative efficiency. VARIÁVEIS REDUNDANTES E A QUALIDADE DE ZONAS DE MANEJORESUMO: A agricultura de precisão proporciona aos agricultores identificar e tratar de forma adequada as variações encontradas na área agrícola. As zonas de manejo (ZMs) permitem a implantação da agricultura de precisão de forma viável e relativamente mais econômica. A forma mais importante para definir ZMs é usando o algoritmo fuzzy C-means. Um problema consiste em como selecionar a variável a ser usada como layer de entrada no processo fuzzy. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho, foi testar a hipótese de que variáveis redundates podem prejudicar o processo de delineamento de ZMs. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em uma área de 19,6 ha e 15 agrupamentos de ZMs foram gerados por meio do o algoritmo fuzzy C-means, dividindo-se em duas a cinco classes. Cada agrupamento usou uma composição diferente de variáveis, que são os atributos cobre, silte, argila, e altitude. Foi encontrado que algumas combinações dessas variáveis produziu melhores ZMs. Nenhuma combinação de variáveis produziu desempenho estatisticamente melhor que a ZM gerada apenas com as variáveis não redundantes. Assim, as variáveis redundantes podem ser descartadas. O agrupamento com todas as variáveis não forneceu maior separação e organização dos dados entre as classes de ZM, não sendo recomendado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: agricultura de precisão, correlação espacial, eficiência relativa.

Defining management zones for a papaya culture considering soil chemical attributes by fuzzy c-means

“…This method was used to divide the data groups used to determine the management zones into two and three classes (Ricardo et al, 2016). The objective function used by FCM is described as Equation 1:…”

Slash Spatial Linear Modeling: Soybean Yield Variability as a Function of Soil Chemical Properties

“…Knowledge of spatial variability of soybean yield and its relationship to soil chemical properties are essential for proper crop management (Sobjak et al, 2016). However, many precision agriculture users get disappointed trying to find the ideal variable-rate application of the nutrient based on the prescription map, because does not always correspond to the soybean yield map generated after the intervention.…”