••• TRADE NEWS
PRECISION FARMING
– the basic principles
ONE OF THE LEADING GLOBAL ISSUES OF THE CURRENT ERA IS FOOD SECURITY . A SOLUTION IS TO INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY ON EXISTING RESOURCES .
Figure 1 . Soil form map .
PETRUS VAN STADEN
Precision farming starts with the detail characterisation of the natural resources in order to quantify variation in the soil and / or crop environment . The data is used to make recommendations regarding a product , the quantity as well as time and place of application in order to ensure optimal crop production , increased productivity and profitability . These actions are implemented in the field with sophisticated technology .
Global positioning systems are used to gather geo-referenced data and to apply geo-referenced application maps . This technology is used in tractors , harvesters and crop sprayers .
ADVANTAGES OF PRECISION FARMING : More effective utilisation of production inputs
• Margin above fertilising costs increases by more than 20 %.
• Saving on lime amounts to 20 % to 50 %.
• Over-application of herbicides and pesticides can be halved .
Figure 2 . Effective depth map .
Figure 3 . Potential maize yield for year-on-year production .
Optimal utilisation of yield potential , increased profitability and environmentally- friendly farming .
• Improved grain quality .
• Increased yields per mm available moisture of 20 % to 50 %.
• Increased net income per mm available moisture of more than 50 %.
PRE-SEASON PLANNING Step 1 : Setting up a soil map This is a once-off step for farmers who do not have a soil map . The farmer determines the scale ( e . g . 1 , 2 or 4 ha ) of the grid survey . The data of the survey is processed for composition of the following maps :
• Soil form map ,
• Effective depth map ,
16 AUG / SEP 2016 • SENWES Scenario