Evaluating how operator experience level affects efficiency gains for precision agricultural tools

Tractor guidance (TG) improve environmental gains relative to nonprecision technologies; however, studies evaluating how tractor operator experience for nonguidance comparisons affect gains are nonexistent. This study explores spatial relationships of overlaps and gaps with operator experience level (0–1, 2–3, 6+ yr) during fertilizer and herbicide applications based on terrain attributes. Tractor paths recorded by global navigation satellite systems were used to create overlap polygons. Results illustrate operator experience level is critical for better efficiency gains estimation (for non-TG comparisons). Operators with 6+ yr of experience reduced overlap by 7.7 and 20.6% compared with operators with 2–3 and 0–1 yr of experience, respectively. New operators had consistently higher overlap across all slope (<0.5, 0.5–1, 1–2, 2–5, 5–9, and 9–15%) and roughness classes (<0.1, 0.1–0.2, 0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.5, 0.5–0.7, 0.7–1 and >1). A low interpersonal reliability value of 0.02–0.03 indicates operator experience is crucial to estimate TG efficiency gains and consistent drivers experience levels are needed when evaluating economic and environmental gains from TG.