IMPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING IMAGERY AND CROP ROTATION FOR NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION

Adoption of new technologies, such as remote sensing, is slowed by such factors as high monetary and/or human capital costs and uncertainty about their value. This analysis explores the impact on nitrogen fertilizer use and efficiency and net returns among sugar beet producers in the Red River Valley from using remote sensing technologies and crop rotation for nitrogen management. The study found that cropping patterns had a significant impact on nitrogen use and net returns, but that most decision tools used for nitrogen management had little influence. The impact of using remotely sensed images for nitrogen management in sugar beets was not statistically significant.