Precision agriculture aims to reach a maximum, homogeneous quality and yield with minimal fertilizer and pesticides. Because of less diesel and N-fertilizer use and because a good soil structure is created, precision agriculture is saving CO2-emissions. Also the irrigation and sowing / planting density can be optimized.
In the context of the subsidy MKB innovation stimulation leading sectors South-Netherlands 2015 (MIT ZUID) and co-financed by Provincie Noord-Brabant, a project is executed which examines whether the technology in the field of collecting data from vehicles, as is used in the automotive sector, can be used in modern tractors and agricultural equipment. This project is partly realized with financial support from the province of North Brabant. It uses a special version of the CAN bus, the ISOBUS, such as those in tractors and equipment and the technique with which sensor data can be made available in the Cloud. Through the use of practical data from various tractors and equipment, Beijer Automotive among other, examines whether and to what extent the current automotive technologies can also be deployed in this market to make relevant data available for applications in precision agriculture.
In an agricultural field no plant or place is equal. In one place there is just a little less nitrogen in the soil and on the other weeds come up or insect pests strike down. The one who knows exactly what plants need extra fertilization or what plants are likely to be sick, can take the required action. The problem is the human perception as well as high costs of many (traditional) analysis. With the naked eye a farmer cannot see if a plant is on the edge of a deficit, or that a plant has already put in motion an immune response against a plague. This means that (too) often plants are sprayed preventively or that spraying is started when the plague is already fully present. Also a farmer might already start to fertilize while there are still enough nutrients in the soil. Therefore he uses more fertilizers and pesticides than strictly necessary and the potential for leaching to the surface is larger. In addition, a grower treats the entire plot in much the same way. If on one part of the plot a nitrogen deficiency or a disease or pest occurs, the whole plot is given the same dose. Too much or too little; but never the right quantity.
Precision agriculture offers the solution. Sensors, for example, measuring the reflectance of the crop, which is an indicator for the fertilization status of the plant and how vital it is. This is the “true” state. Which is then via calculators compared to the desired situation. If the result shows a deficit from the plant for example, then the data is converted to the machines that precisely spray or fertilize on the meter.
Another step is using data from the engine management system of the tractor. Certain sensor data provide information about the soil condition which again is important for the degree of fertilization or the extent to which the soil has to be pre-processed in order to obtain a maximal growth result.
The overall picture of the sensors must ultimately lead to a plant getting exactly the right amount of fertilizer and diseases are detected in time. Thus increasing plant yield with less fertilizers.
