Is it really as easy as “the right amount of input in the right place at the right time with the right implement”?
Precision farming is about managing field variations (soil, climate and water) as accurately as possible to grow food with higher productivity in a sustainable manner, while reducing production costs and environmental impact.
Technological development has resulted in an enormous scope of possibilities to achieve the abovementioned and farm more effectively. These technologies include:
- Remote sensing technology,
- Geo-mapping,
- High precision positioning systems,
- Automated steering systems,
- Smart sensors and a range of IT-applications combined with high-tech engineering,
- Integrated electronic communications,
- Variable rate technology.
Precision farming starts at the crop growth cycle, which consists of 4 basic steps:
- Precision Soil preparation
The impact of surface water management on crop yield is often overlooked. The key to management of waterlogging and erosion is detailed pictures of elevation across your field and/or farm. This is linked to soil type.
Soil preparation can successfully be implemented after analyses of:
- detailed soil survey maps, e.g. soil type and topography,
- soil physical property maps, e.g. texture and plant available water capacity,
- yield maps of the previous crop,
This will provide yield potential and management zones in your field/farm.
From these maps the correct agricultural practices and implements can be identified to achieve optimum results with soil preparation.
Depending on the texture and topography, soil preparation is traditionally the most energy-consuming aspect of farming, requiring significant inputs of fuel and time. The wrong implement can increase the risk of erosion and crop failure.
- Precision Seeding
Critical factors to achieve higher yields with less seed is correct planting depth and proper row spacing. Combined with geo-mapping, this can ensure:
- More seeds are planted in soil with high yield potential
- Less seeds are planted in low yield potential areas
- Effective variable rate application (VRT) of fertiliser
Fast and uniform germination ensures a crop of high yield and optimum use of resources. It is thus important to consider soil and climate properties as well as tillage practices in relation to planter properties to ensure that the planter is equipped with technology to ensure effective and accurate planting during the optimum planting window.
- Precision Crop Management
During this phase plants need:
- the right amount of top-dressing at the right time, and
- proper management of weeds, pests and diseases.
Key precision applications during the third stage include:
- Crop sensors
- Optimised boundary spreading
- Satelite steering systems (GPS)
These are to eliminate the risk of over and under-fertilisation and reduce spraying by avoiding overlapping areas.
- Precision Harvesting
Harvesting is often the most critical step in the crop growth cycle. Speed, accuracy and timing are the factors determining the success of all previous steps.
Although it is the “end” of one production cycle, the next production cycle actually started at physiological maturity of the crop being harvested.
- Data analyses and evaluation
The production cycle stops at the end of the evaluation process. The strategy in the previous four steps needs to be evaluated. The short-term and long-term evaluation of data is necessary to identify.
- Profit or loss in each management zone,
- Effectiveness of communication systems, implements, sensors, technology, etc.,
- Environmental impact
- New strategy for the next production cycle.
To find out more about Senwes Agricultural and Precision Services, contact::
Etienne Nel - Manager Precision Farming; 018 464-7526 or
Petrus van Staden - Senior Agronomist; 018 464-7800
Or visit: http://www.senwes.co.za/en-za/products-services/agricultural-services