Something old, something new, something borrowed,

something blue

Peter Kuikman & Oene Oenema

Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra)

Smart Fertilization – the concept

Smart Fertilization - definition

‘.... the process of allocating and handling nutrient resources to achieve agronomic objectives, environmental and societal objectives’ (Oenema et al, 2013).

It is a ‘cyclic process’ with a series of specific activities:

1. analysis of plant needs and soil supply

2. decision making

3. planning

4. execution

5. monitoring and control.

Measure – Decide - Action

.

Measure Analyse Making decisions Execute

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Smart Fertilization – drivers

Smart fertilization is dynamic and responds to

● Science

● Technology

● Markets

● Society

Smart Fertilization - objectives

Objectives include:

● Agronomic objectives relate to high crop yields and

quality and economic competitiveness

● Environmental objectives relate to minimal nutrient

losses and minimal or “no net” greenhouse gas

emissions

● Societal objectives relate to careful information exchange

and to the use of acceptable production methods and

techniques and to safe food and secure food supply

Why Smart Fertilization / Precision

Agriculture?

Restore balance between food production andenvironment

Use High Tech to secure food supply security, food quality and reduce environmental impact

● Field- to site- to plant-specific treatment and responses

Care for non – renewable resources (soil, P)

Avoid mis-management - robotics/machines mayperform better then man does

Consumers want good quality, low impact/foo(t)dprint, low and constant food prices

Smart Fertilization – agronomic principle

‘4-right’ (4R) principle:

1. the right type of element/fertilizer

2. in the right amount

3. applied at the right moment

4. at the right place (row vs broadcast)

Smart fertilization makes use of the best available methods and technologies.

Smart Fertilization – general principles (1)

1. Plants and crops require 14 different and essential

nutriënts (elements) in specific amounts

● Provide the ideal, customized mix of nutriënts

2. Variances exist that can be accounted for:

● Crop needs

● Soil mineralization, mobility and reactivity in soils

● Accumulation of nutrients

● Health risk for humans (elements)

● Health risk for environment & ecosystems (scales)

Principles of Smart Fertilization (2)

3. Crop residues, wastes, manures and compost containall essential elements

● Prevent accumulation of unwanted elements

● Treat and process to optimize the use of these nutrients

4. Nutrients naturally cycle and cannot be destroyed

● Spatial and temporal scales matter and need alignment

What is available and what is not?

Scan of fields (satellite, airplane, drone, tractor, robot)

Nutrient management at 3x3m scales

Ferti-gation (mixed fertilization and irrigation)

Science for supporting fertilizer advice at 3x3m scales

Farmers skills (see ABNAMRO report)

On demand fertilizers to fit specific needs

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Modern Tractor

Photo: Daddystractor.com

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Prominsing Precision Agriculture Technology

Variable Rate Nutrient Application (N, P, K, Lime, Manure)Inorganic, solid granules Spinner spreader

Pneumatic spreaders (airflow)

Inorganic, Liquid VR pesticide sprayer technology

Organic, Slurry Tank driven

Applicator driven

Organic, Solid Solid manure spreaders

Variable Rate Irrigation

Centre Pivot Speed controlled

Zone controlled

Combination speed/zone controlled

Linear Move Speed controlled

Zone controlled

Combination speed/zone controlled

Micro Irrigation (drip) Zone controlled

Machine Guidance

Driver assistance Light bar

Auto steer

Machine auto guidance Machine integrated

Controlled traffic Farming

Permanent traffic lanes Permanent traffic lanes

Variable rate pesticide application

Input system Map based

Sensor Based

Output system Flow based control

Direct chemical injection

Chemical injector with carrier control

Spraying nozzle control

Variable Rate planting

Output system Independent gear box/hydraulic drive

Independent planting/seeding elements per row

Precision physical weeding

Output system Image analysis systems

Ultrasonic sensors

Environment: Focus on areas with high

N2O emissies

Focus on relatively large farms

Focus on economically stronger farms

Identification of countries of interest for

the implementation of smart fertilization

Hoekse Waard - Research area (Oenema)

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Research method

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100 soil samples were taken in each field, using a stratified random soil sampling design.

Both undisturbed and disturbed soil samples weretaken at depth of 5-10, 30-35 and 50-55cm depth, and analysed for soil physical and bio-chemicalcharacteristics, using both standard methods andquick scans with NIR, MIR and XRF.

7 layers!

Pw

K

Mg/Mn

Clay

Soil CO2

SOM

Yield

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K getal, mg/kgSOM, g/kgClay content, %

Challenge ...

Something Old, Something New,

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

and

a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe

To conclude ...

Traditionele bemestingsleer, effectieve bemesting, meststoffen en adviezen

Organische afvallen en reststromen (dierlijke mest, gewasresten, gft) en circular economy; van ieder jaar naar iedere maand een nieuwe meststof; advies?

Zelf waarnemen en advies geven? Capacity building crucial!

“Crowd data sourcing” – big data or privacy? En “niet goed – geld terug” or principle of “statiegeld” tofertilizers?

Thank you and enjoy the afternoon!!

www.recare-project.eu

www.smartsoil.eu

www.animalchange.eu

www.biorefine.eu

www.fertiplus.eu

www.csabooster.eu