Development and testing of a prototype yield mapping system

Yield mapping is a well established technique in the grain industry, but has not yet been extended to sugarcane. A prototype yield mapping system was developed for the mechanical sugarcane harvester. The system incorporated a computer, Differentially-corrected Global Positioning System (DGPS) and various sensors. It operated during the entire 1996 harvesting season in the Burdekin area of north Queensland, and yield maps were developed for a total of 700 ha. This paper presents the maps developed for a 120 ha field which displayed significant spatial yield variation. An aerial photo provides support for variation shown on the yield maps.