Contact/s:
Andrea von Essen
andrea.von.essen@agrovast.se
Precision Farming
Europe
All zones
- Right measure in the right place
- Decreased carbon footprint
- Increased crop yield and quality
Thematic Areas
Production System/s
Summary for Practicioners on the Main Finding(s)/Innovative solution(s)
Precision farming means adapting measures to the variability of fields and crops. Within a field, conditions can vary greatly, and this depends on several factors. One important element is the soil type – the composition of clay, sand and coarse material and this in turn affects the movement of water in the soil. Other things that affect crop conditions are how well-drained the soil is, the soil’s organic matter content, previous years’ fertilisation, pH value and the crop’s access to various plant nutrients.
There are various measures that can be taken in precision farming. The basis for several of the measures is soil mapping, where soil samples are analysed based on soil type, pH, plant nutrients (P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu) and soil organic matter.
P and K applications are adjusted based on analyses of available P and K. Control files are then made for the fertiliser spreader so that more nutrients are applied in areas where P and K availability is low and less in areas with good plant nutrient status. Control files can be made in several different programmes, two examples are markkartering.se and markdata.se. Seed can be varied based on clay content and the higher the clay content, the higher the number of seed to get the same number of shoots/m2. Liming can also be adapted based on pH value, clay content and soil organic matter.
To vary N fertilisation, other data than soil mapping is needed. Several tools are available to calculate the N requirement of the crop, such as N tests or nitrogen stickers. This, combined with satellite images of the biomass of a field, provides a basis for varying N application rates. Maps of biomass, converted from satellite images, are available on Cropsat. On the site, it is also possible to make control files for the fertiliser spreader.
The greater the difference across the field in, for example, clay content, soil content, pH value or nutrient status, the more effect varied inputs of fertiliser, liming and seed will have.
Summary for Practicioners in Native Language
Precisionsodling innebär att man anpassar åtgärder efter fältens och grödornas variation. Inom ett fält kan förutsättningarna variera väldigt mycket och det beror på flera olika saker. En viktig del är jordarten – sammansättningen av lera, sand och grövre material och detta påverkar i sin tur vattnets rörelse i marken. Andra saker som påverkar grödans förutsättningar är hur väldränerad jorden är, markens innehåll av organiskt material, tidigare års gödsling, pH-värde samt grödans tillgång av olika växtnäringsämnen.
Det finns olika åtgärder man kan göra inom precisionsodling. Grunden för flera av åtgärderna är markkartering där jordproverna analyseras utifrån jordart, pH, växtnäring (P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu) och mullhalt.
Givor av P och K anpassas utifrån analyser av tillgängligt P och K. Man gör då styrfiler till gödningsspridaren så det sprids mer näring på de platser där tillgången på P och K är låg och mindre på de delar med god växtnäringsstatus. Styrfiler kan göras i en rad olika program, två exempel är markkartering.se och markdata.se. Utsäde kan varieras utifrån lerhalten och ju högre lerhalt desto högre utsädesmängd för att få samma antal skott/m2. Kalkning kan också anpassas utifrån pH-värde, lerhalt och mullhalt.
För att variera gödsling av N behövs annat underlag än markkartering. Det finns flera olika hjälpmedel för att beräkna N-behovet hos grödan, till exempel N-tester eller kvävestickor. Detta i kombination med satellitbilder av biomassan på ett fält ger ett underlag för att variera N-givan. Kartor över biomassa biomassa, som är omgjorda från satellitbilder, finns tillgängliga på Cropsat. På sidan finns det också möjlighet att göra styrfiler till gödningsspridaren.
Ju större skillnad det är över skiftet i exempelvis lerhalt, mullhalt, pH-värde eller näringsstatus desto mer effekt kommer varierade insatser med gödning, kalkning och utsäde att ge.
Additional Information
Precision farming means adapting measures to the variability of fields and crops. Within a field, conditions can vary greatly, and this depends on a number of factors. One important element is the soil type – the composition of clay, sand and coarse material and this in turn affects the movement of water in the soil. Other things that affect crop conditions are how well drained the soil is, the soil’s organic matter content, previous years’ fertilisation, pH value and the crop’s access to various plant nutrients.
Especially around hollows and hills, conditions can differ greatly.
Precision farming is a fairly broad concept and there are various measures you can take. The basis for several of the measures is soil mapping where the fields are sampled at a density of 1 sample/ha. More frequent sampling is often done at the first soil mapping, with highly variable soils and in vegetable production. Samples are analysed for soil type, pH, plant nutrients(P, K, Mg, Ca, Cu) and soil content. Soil type is only analysed in the first mapping.
P and K rates are adjusted based on soil mapping analyses of available P and K. Control files are then made for the fertiliser spreader so that morenutrients are applied to the parts of the field where P and K availability islow and less to the parts with good plant nutrient status. Control files canbe made in a variety of programs. Two examples are markkartering.se andmarkdata.se. Seed can be varied based on clay content as emergence isoften better on lighter soils. So, the higher the clay content, the higher thenumber of seeds to get the same number of shoots/m2. Liming can also beadjusted based on the soil mapping results of pH, clay content and soilorganic matter. pH affects the availability of many plant nutrients and a pHbetween 6.5 and 7.5 is best for most crops. If the pH is higher or lower, manyplant nutrients become unavailable to the crop.
To vary N fertilisation, other data than soil mapping is needed. There are several tools available to calculate crop N requirements, such as N tests or nitrogen stickers. This, combined with satellite images of the biomass of afield, provides a basis for varying N application rates. Maps of biomass, converted from satellite images, are available on Cropsat. The site also offers the possibility to make control files for the fertiliser spreader.
In autumn oilseed rape, spring application of N can be calculated using the crop’s nitrogen uptake in autumn – the cutting method. This involves cutting and weighing the oilseed rape within 1 m2 at 3-5 locations in the field. Instructions are available at greppa.nu
It is also possible to use a tractor-mounted measuring instrument, N-sensor.
This scans the crop and varies the nitrogen rate directly according to need.
The technology is based on the difference in the amount of light emitted to the crop and how much the crop reflects. Based on the value, a calculation is made of the crop’s biomass, which is a good value to vary the nitrogen rate.
Of course, equipment is needed to apply precision farming and in short it is:
• Data from soil mapping, satellite, drone or similar
• GPS positioning in tractor
• GPS coordinates for the inputs
• Communication between GPS and machine control computer
• Implements with the possibility to change the output while driving• Tools to produce control file for implements
There are additional measures in precision farming, such as track control and quantity regulation of plant protection products and crop yield mapping.
Taking variation into account, inputs to each part of the field are streamlined and optimised to give the crop the best possible conditions. This increases yields and improves quality while reducing environmental impact and carbon footprint.