A new partnership has been announced between Agrovista and developer OneSoil to provide access to precision farming software.
OneSoil Pro uses multiple sources of information to create variable rate maps that can be used in conjunction with the latest application technology.
Agrovista Precision specialist Richard Dulake said: “As fertiliser spreading and drilling equipment continues to develop and become more accessible, growers require more advanced variable rate nitrogen and seed services.
“OneSoil Pro enables us to supply those customers with a truly innovative platform to maximise the return on investment on expensive inputs.”
Up to seven years of existing satellite imagery can be used to analyse fields, taking into account NDVI (vegetation index), soil brightness (soil type) and elevation maps. This data is then used to divide the field into zones based on crop productivity potential.
After harvest, yield maps can also be uploaded to generate yield reports for each zone and further aid decision-making. The system sets up control strips within the productivity zones automatically, enabling growers to assess the effect of different input rates on crop yields over several seasons.
“The system also highlights the productivity percentage change when creating variable rate applications of seed or fertiliser compared with standard seeding rates for each zone, which I’ve not seen before on any online platform,” said Richard.
“For example, one zone (purple) might have a higher potential because has performed x% above the average year after year, while another (pink zone) might have performed x% lower than the average over the same time.
“This gives growers a very useful guide on how different zones are responding to various rates of inputs, and provides a basis for discussion how these could be tweaked to further improve crop performance.”
The system, which is already proven in Europe, North America and Australia, will initially be used for variable rate applications of seed and nitrogen, as well as phosphate and potash.
Variable rate
Growers will be able to split fields into three, five or seven productivity zones on which to base their seed rates, enabling them to adjust seed rate to bring poorer performing areas in line with other parts of the field.
“Given the amount of data incorporated into these maps, the system is far more robust than the soil maps that have been largely used in the past,” explained Richard.
Variable rate nitrogen maps are based on NDVI data, which is updated every two to three days.
“Targeting the nitrogen better according to crop potential helps even up crops, typically leading to 3-5% yield increases,” said Richard.
“Again, users can choose 3, 5 or 7 zones and choose how much to increase or decrease the rate from the standard application for each one.”
Users will be able to access as many strategies as they require for a full year, as well as retain full access to all imagery and application maps. While variable rate nutrition has been slow to take off in the UK, the Sustainable Farming Incentive payment of £29 per hectare is expected to drive interest.
“Most growers already have a variable-rate-capable spreader,” added Richard. “Given that OneSoil Pro costs only a few pounds per ha, this is a pretty affordable way of progressing.
“Of course paybacks are still potentially very good without SFI funding – at current values a 3% yield increase on an 8t/ha crop of wheat would be worth £40/ha uplift in return, around nine times the cost of OneSoil Pro.”
Soil sampling
Agrovista will also use the system to place soil sampling points, based on productivity zones rather than a traditional grid system.
“Some growers do use soil maps to site sampling points, but it’s not unusual for areas of productivity to overly two or more very different soil types, so that technique is not necessarily so accurate,” said Richard.
“Given the importance of good soil sampling, and now with SFI funding available for soil management planning, it makes sense to incorporate this into the OneSoil Pro offer.”
For more information go to www.agrovista.co.uk