Abstract: An automatic soil sampler (10) removes soil samples (65) at known locations and transfers the samples to a packaging station (23) where the samples are packaged and identified. The packages (87) are left in a strip and moved to an analysis workstation (219) for analysis of soil. The results of analysis of each soil sample (65) is used for determining applications of a materials such as fertilizer in that same local region as the region where the soil sample was taken with an applicator (11B) moving over the same field.

Abstract: A system is used for applying fertilizer to a field. A nutrient requirement map is first obtained for the field indicating nutrient requirements for a plurality of locations in the field. A first blend of fertilizer is calculated based on the nutrient requirements. Fertilizer components are blended to form the first blend. The first blend is loaded into a first bin of an applicator. The first blend is then applied with the applicator at a first application rate, wherein the first application rate varies as the applicator travels across the field based on nutrient requirements corresponding to the location over which the applicator is then traveling.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a system of treating a field of interest. A plurality of soil samples are taken from different geographic locations in the field of interest. Geographic identifiers are determined for each of the plurality of samples wherein the identifiers identify the geographic location from which the sample was taken. The samples are analyzed to determine a plurality of soil characteristics indicative of soil condition. A plurality of data bases are accessed to obtain field characteristics corresponding to the field of interest, the field characteristics being indicative of current and historical information corresponding to the field of interest. A program for applying material to the field of interest is determined based on the soil characteristics, the geographic identifiers, and the field characteristics. The program is loaded into a controller operably coupled to an applicator. The applicator is controlled according to the program to apply material to the field of interest.