Center for Agricultural and Rural Development
Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

Optimal Information Acquisition under a Geostatistical Model

April 1999 [99-WP 217]
Authors:
  • Gregory R. Pautsch
  • Bruce A. Babcock
  • F. Jay Breidt

Suggested citation

Pautsch, G.R., B.A. Babcock, and J. Breidt. 1999. “Optimal Information Acquisition under a Geostatistical Model.” Working paper 99-WP 217. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University.

Summary

Develops a framework for incorporating estimation risk into a decision model to determine the optimal amount of soil test information when applying nitrogen fertilizer using a variable rate technology (VRT). Producers should acknowledge that the soil nitrate mapping is a collection of estimates and does not provide information at non-sampled sites. Switching from single rate technology to VTR is more plausible for fields with greatest soil nitrate variability.