The results of precision farming at IKR
Our company is continuously working to provide such services to our partners that serve both of our interests. So it is not accidental that we play pioneering role in the development of the global positioning system-based precision farming. In Hungary we are the first who undertook to adapt this technology for our conditions because the great dream of the growers was to achieve the field specific crop production to realize plannable, controllable, environment-friendly and preservable crop production practice.
With this innovative technology it is possible to apply seeds, fertilizers, pesticides differentially according to the local demands and to modify the method of the operations within the field.
We can say that we are not just talking about the advantages and opportunities of satellite technology because the main element of the technology, the yield sensing-based fertilization is already realized. To represent our results we organized our precision farming demonstration in Pécsvárad castle with the support of the Agrover Rt.
We invited the managers and experts of our Trans-Danubian partners - exactly 140 people - who are interested in this subject and are expected to try or introduce our results on their farms. After the lectures on the new technology and the corn varieties produced on the demonstration fields our partners were able to examine the technology used in precision farming.
A group of participants on the Pécsvárad demonstration
Thanks to our practical experiences gained during the experimental activity started 4 years ago and the expertise of our colleagues, the attitude of the participant growers, the support of the 'Precision Farming' project supported by the National R&D Program, and last but not least the significant financial support of the IKR - according to our conceptions - we will be able to provide a system-level crop production technology that can greatly assist the preservable and environment-friendly soil usage.
Our guests sitting in the combine were shown by the on-board computer the changing yield and moisture values during work. The changing of the suspension volume during fertilization was monitored on the fertilizer spreader's computer.
By this new technology the experts of the Soil Management Company from Kaposvár visited the pre-designated points by navigating with DGPS. We made yield maps for corn, soybean, wheat and barley on 1000 hectares in 2001 and 1600 hectares in 2002. We performed experiments on nearly 10 farms.
On the selected farms the experimental fields were designated based on the data of the previous soil sampling, later according to the results of the new soil sampling and during the consultancy with the local experts.
NH TX 66 combine equipped with yield sensor
The Huniper fertilizer spreader performs planned suspension spreading
On the 51 ha field we measured 483 t corn yield, the average yield was 9,47 t/ha. On the yield map it is clearly seen that the yield varied between 5 and 13 tons per hectares within the field.
We made soil sampling according to a plan and performed laboratory soil tests. In the autumn the starter, in this spring the nitrogen-, complementary and top dressing was spread differentially.
On the Dalmand experimental field we designated 13 sampling units. After this the planned soil sampling was performed with the assistance of the DGPS system.
According to the laboratory test results we appointed that the field is neutral concerning ph value and neither this nor the physical soil type and medium mould content could not effect the yield variations. Concerning yield the differences in phosphor and potassium supply capacity was determinant, obviously the yield correlated with the phosphor and potassium supply capacity.
It is supposed that with better fertilization the yield differences would have been less significant. As the nutrient content within the field could have already restricted yield, in the recommendation the higher yield - higher nutrient demand, lower yield - lower nutrient demand correlation has much less dominance (moved towards the balanced state).
Yield map with the soil sampling units, Dalmand Mg. Rt., 2001.
According to the results of the soil sampling and the yield maps in all the cases two-stage consultancy was made: according to optimal fertilization level and minimum technology. The difference is in the type of the selected suspension. In an optimal level the aim is to supply both phosphor and potassium demand, while in the minimum technology the recommendation concentrates first of all on the supply of the potassium demand (because it concerns corn). The main aim was to increase the nutrient homogeneity of the field by supplying the demands of the crops because in this specific case we can increase yield while increasing the effectiveness of the investment.
Phosphor content and yield map
Potassium content and yield map
The spreading of both the suspension and the nitrogen solution was performed differentially according to the preliminary plans.
We have positive experiences concerning the accuracy of both the harvesting and the spreading system. The systems worked with nearly 100% accuracy. On the on-board computer of the spreading system it is clearly seen that the planned quantity (504 l/ha) corresponds with the spread quantity.
Watching the yield map of 2002 it is obvious that on the South-Eastern part of the field the difference is maximum one yield category compared to the previous year that is not a significant season effect. There are areas where the yield is not lower than in 2001. On the North-Eastern part of the field the decrease of the two categories is typical. According to the nutrient content it was predictable that the 2001 yield can be maintained only with higher fertilizer input but even this was not successful neither. The reason could have been that this part of the field is a more sensitive area but not because of nutrient absence.
Consequently it is clear that the character of the two yields is similar and the more yield map we have the easier to filter and separate the permanent effects and the effects of the specific season and moment. The more accurate the identification of the specific area will be where more fertilizer can constantly produce better results and where it can not.
It is true for the complete fertilizer economy that it can be performed effectively only as a process (even field level).
Generally where this system was tested already the first reactions and impressions were good. The growers expressed their intention to participate in the development of the technology and are willing to spend more on it because the installation and testing of the system requires extra time and money.
The level and the opportunities of the technology are constantly improving. Due to the global positioning we have more and more reliable information that completed with the other possibilities of space informatics we can provide a firm basis for the exploration of the correlations.
Our near future plans are to widen the field and crop type, to realize the field specific and differential seeding and pesticide spreading and create a complete space informatics data base. To achieve these tasks we rely on the work of the cooperating experts of the consortium.
Suspension spreading plan and yield map, Dalmand Mg. Rt., autumn 2001
Nitrosol spreading plan and yield map, Dalmand Mg. Rt., spring 2002
For the complete success the selection of the crop production manager and the operators of the machines will be a determinant factor at present and in the future, as well because the success of the most precisely prepared and planned technological process seriously depend on the attitude of the executive staff. The participants have to feel responsible for the aim and the complexity of the job.
We feel that on the selected farms we partly achieved this goal but some operations have to be done by trained and experienced outsiders.
We are convinced that our countrywide network and the correct relationship with the partners greatly helped the realization of our ideas.
The growers significantly need the application of precision farming. More and more customers order their combines with yield sensors. According to our plans by the autumn of 2003 we will have such operational and consultancy experience that makes us able to responsibly perform the tasks of the completion of the system application.
Dr. Zsuzsanna Pecze
