Create a management zone

Divide a field into zones that behave differently, so you can sample, fertilize, or seed each one at its own rate. You start from your data: one satellite image, several images combined, or a field's soil test results. Zone Designer sorts that data into zones, and you adjust the result until it matches what you know about the field.

If you already have a zone file, see Upload a zone map instead. To build zones from compaction readings, see Use your compaction data to create variable rate compaction prescriptions.

For every role and what it can do, see Breakdown of user permissions.

Start from your data

Pick the source that fits what you have. Each one opens Zone Designer.

From one satellite image

1. On the Home map, select the field.
2. In the field panel, open Layers, then select the imagery layer that holds the image, such as an NDVI layer. 
3. Find the image you want, then select Create management zone on its card.

True color images can't be used to build zones. If an image doesn't support zone creation, FarmQA tells you when you select it.

From several satellite images

Combining images smooths out a single bad day, such as cloud shadow or a dry week, so the zones reflect the field's usual pattern.

1. On the Home map, select the field.
2. In the field panel, open Layers, then select the imagery layer.
3. Select Multi-select. Images that can't be used for zones are hidden.
4. Select Add to cart on each image you want to combine. You can add up to 10.
5. Select the cart button, which shows how many images you've added.
6. Select Create zones.

Multi-select appears only when the layer holds at least two images that support zone creation. The new zone is named after the field with "merged" at the end. You can rename it in Zone Designer.

From soil test results

1. Select Soil, then select the Samples tab.
2. Select the field.
3. To use only some samples, select the Samples list view and check at least two samples. To use every sample on the field, skip this step.
4. Select Create management zone.

Each sample location contributes its most recent result. If a location has more than one result from the same day, FarmQA averages them.

Set up the zones

1. Enter a Name and, if you like, a Description. The Field and Source panels show what the zone is being built from.
2. For soil results, choose the nutrient to zone on in Attribute. To leave out a sample location, select the edit button beside Features, then select the point on the map. Select the check button when you're done.
3. Under Zone parameters, set:
   • Number of zones: how many zones to make.
   • Method: how the zone boundaries are drawn. See How zone-building methods work to choose.
   • Aggregation method: the value each zone carries, such as the data average.
   • Use zero as starting point: turn on to start the first zone at 0.
   • Minimum polygon size (ac): the smallest patch a zone can have. Smaller patches merge into their neighbors.
4. Select Create zones to see the result on the map.

To reuse settings you've saved before, select Apply profile and choose the profile.

Adjust the result

Change any setting and select Update zones to redraw the map. Then fine-tune the zones in the Zones list:

• Colors: choose a color ramp. Turn on Invert to reverse it.
• Show labels: show each zone's name on the map.
• Each zone: change its color or name, expand it to set a Legend label, or edit its value.
• Select Add to add a zone, or the delete button on a zone to remove it.

To set the breaks between zones yourself, choose Custom in Method, then select View and edit breaks. Enter the highest value for each zone and select Update zones, or select Revert to undo your changes.

The Summary chart shows how many acres each zone covers.

Save the zone

1. Select Save. The zone is added to the field's Management zones layer.
2. To write a prescription from it right away, select Create prescription. See Write a prescription from a management zone.

To reuse these settings on other fields, select Save as profile and give the profile a name.

To reshape the zones later, such as splitting them with a grid or a drawn shape, see Edit management zones.

Related articles

• How zone-building methods work
• Edit management zones
• Create a soil nutrient map
• Zone Designer overview