Can A $300 GPS Receiver Be Used for Yield Mapping?

A study was set forth to determine if lower cost GPS receivers are suitable for precision farming practices such as yield mapping. A combine equipped with a yield monitoring system was configured so that yield data could be collected simultaneously using a “lower cost” GPS receiver and a DGPS receiver. Yield maps were then produced from the same field using standard yield mapping techniques. Comparisons were then made between the maps. One comparison made was analyzing the positioning differences between the two receivers. Results showed average relative positioning differences of 1.78 meters. The other comparison made was how similar the yield maps were at showing variability and yield. Visually one could not tell any difference between the maps. Using the yield maps to create management zones, similarity between the maps ranged from 66.4% to 79.7% of being the same.