RL3: Tools, techniques & systems for higher-precision fertilization
Responsible partner: SOLTUB
Country: Budapest, HUNGARY
This demo is considered to be at TRL 9 and has been set up at operational scale. The field trials are performed with different crops like wheat and corn on two soil types with different soil structure during two years. The field experiments consist in assessing the nutrients (N and P) uptake of corn and wheat by using two sensor technologies (manual leaf sampling and tractor-mounted sensor).
This demo solution is linked to Nutri2Cycle research line 3 (RL-3: Tools, techniques & systems for higher-precision fertilization) and is one of the shortlist priority solutions i.e. sub-research line 23 (Nitrogen sensor technology to make real-time crop assessment).
The analysis of different precision agriculture technologies in crop production having in focus the tractor-mounted sensor technologies are evaluated at three Hungarian plant cropping farms. The trials assess the capacity of the sensor technologies to reduce the amount of fertilizers at different main crops like wheat and corn, to increase yields and improve farmer’s income also to protect the environment. By applying the right amount of chemicals at the right place, at the right time and using the right methods, several benefits for crops, soil and groundwater are taking place, including the homogenisation of the soil nutrient provision potential. The demo N sensor technologies belong to precision agriculture technologies (PA), meaning the application of a precise and correct amount of fertilizer or pesticides to crops for increasing productivity and maximizing yields at plot level.
Demo 1. Gábor major Kft. (Martonvásár, Pest county, Hungary):
The agricultural company deals with crop production on 1100 ha out of which 500 ha is own property and 600 ha are rented. The main crops are wheat 350 ha, rape 300 ha and the largest area is cultivated with corn, over 450 ha. The average yields are for wheat 6 t/ha, rape 3 t/ha and corn 8-9 t/ha. In the same farm but under other ownership there is an animal farm having 300 Blonde D’Aquitane bulls, which can provide the one year treated manure for Gábor major Ltd. crop production. The Yara sensor equipment is used for the remote sensing (precision utilisation) of N chemical fertilizers application for cereal crops. The whole cultivated cereal area is covered by the YARA sensor. The sensor function is based on crops light reflectance, having the capacity to measure even in cases with a diffuse/reduced light. The sensor can work on information gained from biomass charts, from nutrient spreading charts and based on real-time measurement of plants nutrient provision e.g. leaf sampling before N application, called N tester.
Demo 2. Recrea Kft. (Regöly, Tolna county, Hungary):
The demo farm deals with crop production on 1400 ha; shared by the crops like wheat 400 ha, autumn barley 150 ha, rape 250 ha, sunflower 70-80 ha and rye 40-50 ha. The rest and the largest area is cultivated with corn, less than 500 ha. The tractor-mounted YARA sensor is used since 2018, when the first application is on 40 ha cereal crops. Today the sensor is mainly used for the remote sensing (precision utilisation) of N chemical fertilizers of cereal crops. The whole cultivated cereal area is covered by the YARA sensor. In the future, the introduction in maize and sunflower fertilisation is also planned. The sensor function is based on crops light reflectance, having the capacity to measure even in cases with a diffuse/reduced light. The sensor can work on information gained from biomass charts, from nutrient spreading charts and based on real-time measurement of plants nutrient provision by leaf sampling. The leaf sampling is performed in blocks with 24 m wide and 100 m long, having 90 samples. The results of the sampling are introduced manually in the sensor computer. The YARA sensor system is compatible with the yield monitoring computer mounted in the cereal combine harvester.
Demo 3. Intermező Kft. (Felsőmocsolád, Somogy county, Hungary):
The plant cropping farm at Felsőmocsolád having over 1800 ha land deals with corn cultivation 500 ha, sunflower on 70 ha, autumn rape on 230 ha, winter wheat on 520 ha, durum wheat on 50 ha, autumn barley on 200 ha also 25 ha spring barley, 180 ha sugar beet, 30 ha clover seed production, 30 ha soya and other small crops. The Green Seeker sensor technology and the provided nutrient provision maps are used in chemical fertilisation and pesticide application since 10-12 years, mainly for winter wheat, winter barley and maize. The variable rates of fertilizers are based on the N sensor collected data (chemical fertilisation maps based on biomass maps) and for P and K elements on soil analysis. The data interlink between the N sensor Green Seeker, soil sampling and analysis, combine harvester data is assured by the Talking Fields satellite. The Green Seeker data are collected by tractor tracking on-field e.g. on a 100 ha plot by two times 500 m. For autumn crops e.g. autumn rape, the tractor tracking for biomass map is performed in autumn after the rape has emerged. For the spring crops e.g. spring barley, maize after the crops have emerged, and a biomass map can be performed based on NDVI.
The demo is addressing the Nutri2Cycle goal by precision application of nutrients (N fertiliser) and thereby reducing environmental footprint for crop production. Using the N sensor tool, farmers have several advantages as applying the optimal fertilizer rate according to crop nutrition requirements, increase fertilizer use efficiency and yields, reduce nitrogen residues in soils in post-harvest conditions, reduce N run-off and leaching (environmental risk due to N losses), reduce soil nutrient supply heterogeneity, so the harvested product quality is more homogeneous, reduce harvesting time and cost.
RL3: Tools, techniques & systems for higher-precision fertilization
Responsible partners: ZLTO, Wageningen University, Ghent University
Country: Reusel (Postelsedijk 15), THE NETHERLANDS, Ghent BELGIUM
This demo is considered to be at TRL 5-6 and has been set up at field plots with a large potato grower at farmland. This trial involves using refined pig manure fractions (liquid fraction after anaerobic digestion and scrubbing salt) of one pig farmer with a pig manure processing plant to grow potatoes without the use of chemical fertilizers at one potato farm.
Research line and priority: This demo solution is linked to Nutri2Cycle research lines 3 and 4 (RL-3: Tools, techniques & systems for higher-precision fertilization, RL-4: Biobased fertilisers (N, P) and soil enhancers (OC) from agro-residues) and is under two shortlist priority solutions i.e. sub-research line 21 – Field assessment of precision arable farming using bio-based fertilizers in potato growing (LL73) and sub-research line 7 – Pig manure processing and replacing mineral fertilizers (LL43).
This demo investigates the effect of using bio-based fertiliser products in combination with precision agriculture. Different bio-based fertilisers are tested next to mineral fertilisers considering the safe and practical use of these fertilisers for potato growing. The effect on N use efficiency, potato yield and quality, and costs versus revenues are investigated. This demonstration trial is a collaboration between a pig farmer, a company specialised in processing pig manure, and a potato grower, all with the aim to contribute to close the nitrogen loop. The manure of the pig farmer is processed into the following bio-based fertiliser products: liquid and solid fraction of the digestate, scrubbing salt and K-concentrate. The demo set-up is divided into three parts: (i) an incubation experiment to analyse the mineralisation rate of the bio-based fertiliser products, (ii) a pot-experiment to measure the nitrogen fertilizer replacement value, and (iii) a field-trial to test bio-based fertiliser products with different levels of refinement.
(i) The mineralisation rate of three bio-based fertiliser products (liquid fraction of the digestate, scrubbing salt, and K-concentrate) is tested under controlled conditions at the laboratory. To analyse release and mineralisation rate, N – incubation tests are performed over a span of 120 days. For this, four replicates of each product are tested against mineral fertilizer (CAN) at every 20 days. The initial dosage of 170kg N/ha is applied at a WFPS of 50%.
(ii) In a pot-experiment under semi-controlled conditions in an open tunnel, the fertiliser replacement value is derived. This value indicates how well a bio-based fertiliser product is able to replace mineral fertiliser. All three products are tested against mineral fertiliser (CAN and KCl). To draw a yield curve, pots with 0, 20, 40, 70 and 100% of the advised amount of N or K fertiliser are prepared, which corresponds respectively to 0, 62, 124, 217, 310 kg N/ha and 0, 53, 106, 186, 265 kg K2O/ha. The performance of the bio-based fertiliser products is tested with 40% of the advised amount of N fertiliser (in the case of the liquid fraction of the digestate and scrubbing salt) or K fertiliser (in the case of K-concentrate) to get a clear distinction between the different products.
(iii) In the field, six treatments and three repetitions are set-up. The treatments are randomized within the field and received the following products: (i) no mineral and no organic fertiliser (0-treatment), (ii) liquid fraction (based on the recommended amount of N), (iii) liquid fraction and manure, (iv) scrubbing salt, (v) scrubbing salt and manure, and (vi) mineral fertiliser and manure. Except the 0-treatments, all fields receive 100% of the advised amount of N fertiliser (310 kg N/ha). The fields are monitored during the growing season, and soil -and leaf samples are tested for N content. The under-water yield per plot is assessed and therefore, the effect of using different refinement levels of pig manure could be assessed. In the end, the remaining amount of N in the soil is measured per plot to analyze the N leaching.
Processing pig manure leads to nutrient and carbon recovery. This field-trial contributes to the Nutri2Cycle goal by replacing mineral N fertiliser for bio-based fertiliser products, which stimulates closing the N loop. Besides, this field-trial also stimulates the N use efficiency by using precision fertilisation techniques.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement nº 101135708. The dissemination of results herein reflects only the author’s view, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
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