It is “very expensive”, “difficult”, “requires a complete change of technology”, “we need a large team of super-professionals” …. Among many Ukrainian farmers there is an opinion that precision farming is the prerogative of large agricultural holdings. But this is not at all! As, for example, our partner from the Kirovograd region, “Yatran”.

Integrated approach = best result

What technologies are used in the farm and what result do they give? Electronic field contours, autopilot, RTK, agrochemical soil analysis and field zoning, yield mapping and satellite monitoring of crop development status, drones and diagnostics, quality control of technological operations, differentiated application of macro and micro fertilizers. We started to introduce innovations 5 years ago, adding new solution step by step.

Economic result? The systematic use of these elements made it possible to achieve 50% efficiency with the ratio: minus 25% of expenses and plus 25% of profit.

Precision Agriculture Implementation Algorithm

There are many examples when everything seems to be there – but there are no systems, “the puzzle does not add up.” In “Yatran” – everything worked out. Why?

The first is an individual approach. The farm has an individual approach not only to the field, but also to each heterogeneous section of the field.

Change the approach, and not just buy equipment – that’s the main thing.

Unique technique

In precision farming, unique aggregates are used in Ukraine: you can’t buy these in a store! They are modernized and retrofitted for specific technology features in the farm.

In the “Yatran”, the KVERNELAND sowing complex (2012) was equipped with: a tank and a controlled system for differential localized tape application of liquid fertilizers.

Investments in retrofitting the seeder returned in the first year.

It is clear that upgrading an old seeder is cheaper than selling it and buying a new one. Sometimes it’s enough to retrofit a company’s sprayer, seeder cultivator and tractor. And it will be more effective if, of course, you have developed a “roadmap” for the introduction of precision farming for the next few years.

“Precise” sowing

Additional 1t / ha. The farm introduced the technology of interchangeable seeding rates. Seeds are sown according to task cards according to a very simple algorithm: a large sowing rate in the areas with the best potential and less in areas with low reserves of moisture and other resources. For example, this year (2020), the corn planting rate per field varies from 50,000 to 80,000 seeds. But the point is not in saving seeds. Farmers can rational use the potential of each heterogeneous part of field and obtaining an additional 0.5 or +1.0 t / ha of corn.

Fertilizer application

Differentiated fertilizer application is a fashionable “feature”, which, however, does not suit everyone. It is important to understand when and where to differentiate. At Yatran, this technology is implemented and demonstrates effectiveness.

The high diversity of the phosphorus fields led to the introduction of a differentiated approach using task maps. Potassium is less colorful and is at a high level of supply in the soil. Therefore, potassium does not require a differentiated approach. Zinc sulfate is applied to the soil with a sprayer.

For a quick start when sowing, fertilizer is applied in micro-granules containing nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.

Nitrogen liquid fertilizers are applied differentially and locally in several stages: in the spring, locally-tape-sowing complex and top dressing using Y-DROP.

The farm has significantly optimized the use fertilizers and increased productivity. But every time when it comes to the results of innovation, skeptics say: it was because there was moisture! So, here, separately about innovation and rain …

About innovation and rain

Management of nitrogen, moisture and extra profit. Depending on the moisture content, soil analysis and expected yield, the need for nitrogen is planned and the timing and methods of its application are determined.

In “Yatran” nitrogen is introduced in several stages, for example, in a specific field, the need for 12 t / ha of corn N 96 kg. First make 64 kg of nitrogen. The introduction of N 32 kg D.V. – postponed. Why? Since now there is no exact understanding of what is the expected level of moisture and what will be the activity of mineralization of organic matter in the soil.

That is, nitrogen was given and then we look at the results of the diagnosis of mineral nitrogen in the soil. When there are optimal moisture reserves and normal development of the crop, a self-propelled sprayer with the Y-DROP system enters the field and brings the required amount of nitrogen to the root.

This allows you to optimize fertilizer application technology and not lose money.

Therefore, innovation does not deny the importance of moisture and does not replace rain in the field. But modern approaches can effectively manage such a valuable resource. Although, of course, even favorable climatic conditions and modern technology do not guarantee success, if not yet that …

Team

Team for the introduction of precision farming. High-quality agro-consulting and comprehensive agronomic support will help to introduce precision farming without “unnecessary movements”. But for this system to work, there must be “drivers” in the farm who see the goal of innovation. In “Yatran” such “drivers” are Grigory Voitenko, the owner and manager of the farm and the ideologist of introducing these technologies in the farm and his son Viktor Voitenko.

Epilogue

There is no single recipe. Every farm or company, like the field, requires an individual approach. For each farm, its own action algorithm is compiled and a “road map” is developed.

Yaroslav Boyko, CEO of AgriLab, official representative of the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) in Ukraine