New fertiliser and biostimulant application technologies

5 August, 2024/in academic, Arvensis Agro general/by arvensisagro

Use of drones in precision agriculture

21st century agriculture is incorporating new technologies to meet the challenges ahead.

The use of drones enables precision monitoring and management of plantations as well as management decisions from sowing to harvesting.

The challenges of 21st century agriculture

Agriculture is the basic and fundamental pillar of human nutrition and of Civilization itself. It is also an irreplaceable source of raw materials, both present and future (Bioenergy).

‘At least once in a lifetime we will need a lawyer, a doctor or an architect, but three times a day throughout our whole lives we need a Farmer’.

It is thus clear that the challenges of Agriculture for the next century are, in fact, the fundamental challenges that Humanity must face in order to ensure its own future and viability.

The FAO identifies as the main challenges the growth of the world population, the shortage in the availability of labour and arable land, and the fulfilment of environmental requirements for sustainability and food security.

All of which leads agriculture to adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods, including the latest available robotization technologies such as the use of drones.

New advances and improved performance

Technology has advanced in the last few years, and nowadays there is equipment capable of lifting a greater load, with elements that provide a great versatility of uses (hyperspectral cameras, spraying systems for liquid chemical products and the application of solid products, etc.).

On the other hand, the new generations of batteries also offer greater autonomy, allowing the monitoring of large areas with a single flight plan.

Drones, due to their flexibility, capacity and affordable price, have become the most popular aerial platform and the one most widely used in technified farms.

Drones allow continuous monitoring of the crop by capturing images throughout its development. Data analysis, through integrated management systems, allows management decisions to be made from sowing to harvesting.

Early detection of anomalies allows early reaction and appropriate measures to be taken in the right time.

The analysis of seasonal data allows the measurement of spatial and temporal variability both within the plot and between plots of the same plantation.

All this information allows plantations to establish differentiated management areas based on knowledge of the crop itself, its rotations, soil type, yield data and irrigation management, allowing the reduction of production costs and the optimization of inputs such as fertilizers and phytosanitary products.

Some of the main applications of the use of drones in agriculture to highlight are:

– Characterisation of spatial variability in crop water status.

– Characterisation of the spatial variability of the soil.

– Characterisation of the phenotypic response of the crop.

– Characterisation of the vegetative state of the crop.

– Construction of 3D soil models.

– High precision applications (management of differentiated zones).

– Safety in agricultural operations.

– Early detection of pests and diseases.

– Plant counting to know the germination potential.

– Prescription maps for sowing doses, precision irrigation and variable fertilisation.

From Arvensis Agro we have developed a complete range of advanced biostimulants that are adapted to the new technologies of application by drone, among them are Biofertilizers based on microorganisms (FERTTYBYO, MYCROTTRON), Defense Promoters (LIGNOMIX, GLOPPER), Biostimulants (QUICELUM, SUGAR TRANSFER) and Advanced Nutrition products (TRIAMIN PLUS, RHIZUM, CRIPTHUM).

Past Tuesday 5th March 2024 a technical demonstration day for the use of drones took place at La Clorofilla farm in Mercato Saraceno (Forlì-Cesena), Italy.

Organised by Agrigeodron together with 2A ARVENSIS Italia and KOPPERT Italia, the theme of the meeting was ‘Smart technology for the agriculture of the future’.

A practical demonstration of the use of drones to distribute Biostimulants and Auxiliary Fauna was attended by more than thirty technicians and farmers from major reference plantations.