Our approach to precision agriculture is to integrate spatial information with local knowledge (farmers and agronomists) in order to develop a strategy specific to each paddock and each farm.
We understand the need of offering a flexible approach to variable rate applications which may include sowing density, crop nutrition, crop protection, soil amelioration, irrigation and more.
An increased knowledge of crop performance may also be used to assist other management decisions such as crop rotations, farm/paddock layouts, drainage design and machinery investments.
From our experience we see some general steps for implementing precision agriculture:
Example of overlaying several seasons’ years of yield data –the picture on the left illustrates % above or below the combined average yield, and on the right is a “stacked” yield data showing consistent high, medium, and low yielding areas over time (min. 3 years)
Example of a P replacement map (M.A.P application map) from a yield map (Left)
Variable rate lime and gypsum
Variable rate soil amelioration such as lime and gypsum is also another entry point into precision agriculture. We can assist you with determining locations to soil sample and to create the application maps. We also have a soil pH detector system where we map soil pH using a quad bike in order to design variable rate lime applications.
The aim is not necessarily to save $ by applying less product, but rather apply the correct rate to different areas of the paddock in order to improve crop production.
Below is an example satellite image with soil sampling points (left) and resultant variable rate lime map.
Below is a soil pH map generated using the Soil pH Detector, the black points represent the positions where the values were recorded. We can map a georeferenced sample point in less than a minute!
We understand the need of offering a flexible approach to variable rate applications which may include sowing density, crop nutrition, crop protection, soil amelioration, irrigation and more.
An increased knowledge of crop performance may also be used to assist other management decisions such as crop rotations, farm/paddock layouts, drainage design and machinery investments.
From our experience we see some general steps for implementing precision agriculture:
- Collect a history of paddock data (yield, crop biomass and soil maps)
- Develop an understanding of the extent & stability of crop variation
- Conduct ground truthing to understand what is causing the variability
- Test the responses of managing this variability
- Apply variable rate application
Paddock and farm zoning
Paddock and farm zoning is a starting point for variable rate technology. We offer two types of analysis from past yield or imagery data. Normalised and Stacked.
Example of overlaying several seasons’ years of yield data –the picture on the left illustrates % above or below the combined average yield, and on the right is a “stacked” yield data showing consistent high, medium, and low yielding areas over time (min. 3 years)
Variable rate phosphorus
Variable rate phosphorus (P) is a clear starting point for farmers collecting yield data; however it is important to understand background P levels in order to determine the final P application rates. We have found that this process is effective at saving up to $48/ha in Phosphorus inputs, especially after a dry year.
Example of a P replacement map (M.A.P application map) from a yield map (Left)
Variable rate lime and gypsum
Variable rate soil amelioration such as lime and gypsum is also another entry point into precision agriculture. We can assist you with determining locations to soil sample and to create the application maps. We also have a soil pH detector system where we map soil pH using a quad bike in order to design variable rate lime applications.The aim is not necessarily to save $ by applying less product, but rather apply the correct rate to different areas of the paddock in order to improve crop production.
Below is an example satellite image with soil sampling points (left) and resultant variable rate lime map.
Below is a soil pH map generated using the Soil pH Detector, the black points represent the positions where the values were recorded. We can map a georeferenced sample point in less than a minute!
