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Measuring spatially-variable N requirements of maize

An account of a trial to establish the value of crop sensors and geographic co-ordinates to determine variable nitrogen requirements and savings that can be made in nitrogen application rates.

Year of Publication2011

A Crop Circle sensor used to measure plant reflectance - an indicator of leaf chlorophyll and plant nitrogen status - in a commercial crop on Harper Adams’ farm showed great variability in nitrogen requirement. A comparison of the overall nitrogen requirement estimated in this way with the standard application rate suggests that substantial savings are possible using geographic co-ordinates to programme the fertiliser applicator.

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Environmental impact > Wastes management & pollution control
• Subject Collection > Arable & industrial crops > Cereal crops
• Subject Collection > Arable & industrial crops > Nutrition & fertilisers

Additional keywords/tags

precision agriculturenitrogen pollutionenvironmental effects of nitrogen