An overview of Precision Farming technologies: what they are, why they work and how they can be used to improve field management and water quality

Transcription

1 An overview of Precision Farming technologies: what they are, why they work and how they can be used to improve field management and water quality Peter Enright Farm Management & Technology Program Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences McGill University, Macdonald Campus Eco Farm Day February 28, 2015 Cornwall, ON 1 2 Water quality is the report card on our management Context 3 so how do you manage the spatial variability. 4

2 Precision Farming: (field scale) Managing each crop production input fertilizer, lime, herbicide, insecticide, seed on a site specific basis to reduce waste, increase profits and maintain the quality of the environment Another definition would be that you treat small areas of the field as a distinct management unit. 5 6 Precision Conservation (watershed scale) Target high priority areas for adoption of best management practices by identifying the small portions of the landscape that have a disproportionate effect on soil erosion, degradationand water quality (Galzki etc al, 2011) 7 8

3 Six (6) technologies that enable Precision Farming GPS (Global Positioning System) Yield monitoring GIS (Geographic Information Systems mapping +) Remote Sensing Proximal Sensing Variable Rate Applications / Technologies 9 10 Agronomic practices that change because of Precision Farming soil sampling / nutrient status lime/manure/fertilizer applications weed / insect / disease scouting &control documenting field history/field management, drainage problems, etc Seeding rates, seeding depth other??? 11 12

4 13 14 Source: V.I. Adamchuk

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6 Source: Innotag Sampling Points Field 12 (9.2 ha) 23 24

7 ph Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow you to map, overlay, combine data. Source: D. Diabse, Penn State

8 Management Zones 29 Source: Fergerson et al, EC163, U Nebraska 30 Remote Sensing - sensing reflected radiation 31 32

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10 NDVI = Normalized Difference Vegetation Index 37 (Reflection Near Infrared - Reflection red ) (Reflection Near Infrared + Reflection red )

11 41 Proximal Sensors are mounted close to the crop or soil, or in direct contact with the soil, and they are «real 42 time» or «on the go» Source: ASABE Resources Magazine, May/June 2011, Pg 7 More on Proximal Sensors

12 To the right, we see a sprayer equipped with a greenseeker sensor, and a calibration curve to relate a modified NDVI value into ultimate crop yield. Grain Yield, kg/ha 6000 Y = 396 e 283 INSEY 5000 AdjR 2 = In-Season Estimate of Yield (NDVI/Days w ith Plant Grow th) 45 VERIS EC soil mapping system

13 49 50 Management Zones 51 Source: Fergerson et al, EC163, U Nebraska 52

14 Variable rate applications / technology

15 Auto steering

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17 65 66 The data sets Figure 1 Sub-watersheds on St. Esprit 67 68

18 Projet La lisière verte Keep the soils in the fields To win the war to non point source pollution Richard Lauzier, MAPAQ DIAGNOSTIC ENVIRONNEMENTAL 70 Etude du bassin versant du Ruisseau-aux-Castor Profil des cultures SOYA SEIGLE FOIN PATURAGE ORGE MAÏS-GRAIN MAÏS-ENSILAGE LUZERNE CÉR. GRAINÉE BLÉ 11 km 2 24 fermes 307 parcelles Production laitière et céréalière Bassin versant du Ruisseau-aux-Castors 71 L EUTROPHISATION EN IMAGE 72 Bassin versant de la Rivière-aux-Brochets

19 AUTRE TYPE DE FISSURE Different incentives simultaneously 75 Reimbursment of necessary investments to realize the runoff control structures Therefore, drain inlets, filtering trenches, etc, payed at 100% Payment of a unique amount to compensate the farmers for the monetary losses: $675/Ha for two years ($337.50/year) and the farmer keeps the crop, if one 76

20 Levée du foin Contrôle du ruissellement Avaloirs de ligne de lot : 60 pieds 79 80

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28 109 Site #2: 2001/2003 data TP vs ph in Subsurface drainage waters 8.4 (Dec 2001 to May 2003) ph TP Thank you! Merci! Peter.Enright@McGill.ca