We started with describing the current situation of potato production in The Netherlands. We carried out a desk study in 2017 to identify possible VRAs in potatoes, to summarize on-farm experimental data with mature VRAs and to do a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The results are discussed in the final section. We did a cost-benefit assessment (CBA) on the five emerging PA VRAs. The second objective is to analyse the on-farm test results in order to determine if there is a business case for VRAs in potatoes. We identified five (near) mature VRAs based on on-farm tests in The Netherlands during the last 5–10 years. In this paper, we provide an overview of emerging PA VRAs in potatoes. This all has to be embedded in a supportive IT environment that allows easy and safe use of data, models and advice (task maps in case of VRA). Each VRA requires the following: (1) data on spatial and temporal variation of key parameters, (2) a model that translates data into a task map, and (3) an implement that can apply the tasks site-specifically.
In each crop, at least 5 and up to 20 VRAs can be identified. Inputs are optimized according to site-specific needs. VRA is a PF application that uses data on spatial and temporal variation of specific parameters of soil or crop, in order to optimize a crop management activity. A first objective of this paper is to give an overview on VRA PATs in potato in The Netherlands. In this study, we focus on reacting PATs: variable rate application (VRA). Precision agriculture technology (PAT) can be categorised as recording, reacting and guidance techniques. However, still more research and development is needed before broad adoption of PF can take place, and its expected benefits can be harvested (Kempenaar and Lokhorst 2016). So, expectations of PF are high (Haverkort and Kempenaar 2016). Society expects more sustainable production from PF. New PF services and products are being marketed by companies. Farmers and chain partners expect that management processes can be optimized (both economically and ecologically) with PF. In the next years, several precision agriculture ‘enabling technologies’ became ready-to-use in farming, such as soil and crop sensors, farm management information systems (FMIS), global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), geographical information systems (GIS) and other information technology (IT) tools, triggering the interest of farmers and agri-food chain partners in PF as well. Bouma 1996), who showed that information on spatial variation of soil properties could be used to optimize nutrient use in crops site-specifically. The potential of PF was first recognised by scientists at the end of the last century (e.g. It is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter- and intra-field variability in crops. Precision agriculture or precision farming (PF) can be defined as doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time, in the right way (Blackmore et al. The perspectives of VRAs in potatoes are discussed. More VRAs will become available given ongoing R&D. We foresee a slow but gradual adoption of VRAs in potato production. Savings on pesticide use and N-fertilizer use with the VRAs were on average about 25%, which benefits the environment too. Data on costs and savings of the VRAs showed that the investments in VRAs will pay off under practical conditions in The Netherlands. They use one of two types of spatial data: soil maps or biomass index maps.
These five VRAs were as follows: planting, soil herbicide weed control, N side dress, late blight control and haulm killing. For five VRAs, we found test results allowing to make a cost-benefit assessment. We ranked them on availability of ‘proof of concept’ and on-farm test results. We identified 13 potential VRAs in potato, ranging from soil tillage to planting to crop care to selective harvest. We made an overview of potential VRAs in potato crop management in The Netherlands. In this paper, we focus on responding to intra-field variability in potato crops and analyse variable rate applications (VRAs). Precision agriculture is a farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter- and intra-field variability in crops.
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