Plant Map 3D: Revolutionizing Cover Crop Management in Chesapeake Bay Watershed

A new technology called Plant Map 3D is helping farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed get more benefit from cover crops. The system uses cameras to create a high-resolution grid showing the species and biomass of the cover crop stand across the field.

The images are then used to create a map showing nitrogen availability, resulting from nitrogen fixation and tie-up. This information helps farmers adjust sidedress recommendations, optimizing in-season decision-making and economic yield.

Cover crops can provide valuable nitrogen credits for corn production, but the exact amount of nitrogen available can be difficult to determine without this technology. Plant Map 3D provides precise, variable-rate maps for sidedress nitrogen on corn that account for cover crop nitrogen credits.