Fieldlab Fertilisation

ASSETS

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Save on fertiliser

More and more duties and rules are imposed on the use of fertilizers. Therefore, it is necessary to be precise about its use. This is possible by collecting data, processing it into a task map and then applying variable fertilization with precision agriculture. The vision is to use this to apply accurate and specific fertilization, allowing for savings in fertilizer use. The savings can then be used, for example, to further strengthen the strong spots in the plot or improve the weak spots.

Crop sensors and variable fertilization

With crop sensors it is possible to collect data that says something about plant growth. This is possible by capturing the amount of reflected (sun) light with the crop sensor. This is possible because plants absorb (sun) light; the other light that is not absorbed is reflected back. The light that is reflected is then captured and observed by the sensor. Based on the amount of light captured, a vegetation index can be measured, such as the NDVI, WDVI and more. The measured vegetation index can then be converted to a biomass map or a chlorophyll map. These maps show the growth and nitrogen requirements of the plants over the entire plot. This can be used to determine the amount of fertilization, of nitrogen for example.

The Fritzmeijer crop sensor is a sensor that can capture reflected sunlight and measure vegetation indices. The practice center has access to these sensors and they can be attached to for example the sprayer or on different tractors. After the data is collected and the vegetation indices are measured, they are converted to biomass or chlorophyll maps. This data can then be processed into a task map. After this, it is possible to implement a crop measure specifically, such as variable fertilizer application or variable foliar fertilizer application.

In addition, it is also possible to use the soil potential map and combine it with the scans that measure vegetative indices. Based on this, the need for nitrogen can be visualized. Subsequently, the right amount of donation can be calculated for the top-up moment. Within Van den Borne Potatoes, the spots with a high yield potential are provided with extra fertilizer. The spots where the yield potential is lower based on the soil potential map are provided with less fertilizer.

Using the soil scan, animal manure in the form of, for example, cattle slurry or pig slurry, can be applied variably. The tricky thing about variable application of animal manure is that animal manure shows many variations. As a result, on some parts of the field, too much or too little nitrogen or other nutrients may be applied. So it is difficult to really control certain levels. However, it is possible to vary the amount of slurry on a field. Afterwards, with the help of the NIR sensor, it can be determined how much nitrogen has been applied to certain areas on the field. In this way, it can still become clear exactly how much nitrogen has been applied to a certain zone of the field.

Project 'Brabant Fertilizes Better'

In 2019, the multi-year project Brabant Bemest Beter started in cooperation with HAS Hogeschool, ZLTO, the Dutch center for manure processing and the province of North Brabant.

This project focuses on the correct application of animal manure in cultivation and within the Practical Center for Precision Agriculture, especially on the fertilizer-free cultivation of, for example, potatoes. This mainly because in animal manure, (essential) fertilizers are produced, which on the other hand are essential and necessary in the cultivation of different crops. Fertilizers are nutrients for the plant, the plant needs these nutrients for the growth of the crop, as different nutrients are necessary in different processes in the plant. A deficiency can affect the growth and quality of the crop. For example, Nitrogen (N) is necessary for promoting plant growth and the photosynthesis process. Potassium (K), in turn, is an essential element for plant moisture and cell tension.

The project aims to create a vital and more fertile soil, reduce climate impact (less fertilizer and less storage of CO2 in the soil), improve the farmer's income and improve the quality of water and nature.

The Practical Center started a four-year experiment within the project, phasing out fertilizer on different cultivation strips. In this, different strips are applied with different amounts of animal manure and different amounts of fertilizer. Ultimately, the trial will see what the different treatment does to the growth and final yield of the crop.