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Evaluating GPS Guidance Technologies for Energy Savings

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2012 Dallas, Texas, July 29 - August 1, 2012  121338140.(doi:10.13031/2013.41879)
Authors:   D Kent Shannon, Charles E Ellis
Keywords:   GPS, Guidance, Energy, Savings

GPS (Global Positioning System) and other electronic technologies have facilitated many innovations in agricultural field machinery. One of these innovations is the development of GPS-based guidance systems. The primary advantage of using a GPS-based guidance system is a reduction in application errors (overlaps and skips). One other benefit often overlooked is the potential energy savings. Using a set of 25 example fields in central Missouri ranging in size from 33 to 221 acres for a total of 2200 acres, potential energy savings in fuel were analyzed using GPS technology to apply fertilizer to a corn/soybean rotation. Comparisons were made looking at overlap reductions from 5% and 2.5% to 0% for nitrogen application and 10% and 5% to 0% for phosphorus and potassium applications. These overlap reductions affect the distance traveled and area covered. Potential fuel savings ranged from 0.11 to 0.14 gallons of diesel fuel per acre or $0.39 to $0.49 per acre using a price of $3.50 per gallon of diesel fuel. With GPS-based guidance systems costing from $1000 to $15,000, a return on investment could be realized by considering fuel savings alone.

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