Grid (Sampling and Management)

Site-specific management of a field, by definition, is the management of areas of a field based on the variability found in these areas of a field. These variations can then be addressed using practices such as variable-rate application to improve the efficiency of inputs, especially fertilizer and lime. 
To make this process manageable and statistically meaningful, fields are commonly divided into grids, or squares, of like size. These grids serve as the foundation for data collection, beginning with a soil sampling regimen.
Within grids, most commonly comprised of 2.5 acres, soil samples are extracted at random and analyzed, then converted into data that can be shown in the form of a color coded map. This data can be used to develop fertilizer prescriptions that integrate with variable rate application rigs.