Efficient inputs – Precise
Calculating nitrogen use efficiency is not a new thing and has become almost routine for some, given the massive fluctuations in the nitrogen market over recent months ...
Precise caught up with Omnia’s Oliver Wood to find out more.
Historically this has been limited to a whole field approach because whilst yield and nitrogen use can be mapped, grain protein has not been previously available.
Protein mapping via John Deere’s Harvest Lab system now changes this and allows growers to see a protein map for the field. Whilst the protein levels are interesting to see and will help with segregation and marketing, it enables its users to calculate nitrogen use efficiency. All that is needed is total nitrogen use and SNS and the efficiency can easily be calculated.
Taking the average yield or 9.3 tonnes/ha, an average protein level of 12.8% and a total nitrogen use and SNS of 235 kg/ha, the average field nitrogen use efficiency is 65.4%. But the more interesting thing to do is to create a nitrogen use efficiency map for the field, showing the spatial variation of efficiency throughout the field.
This now opens up a whole new area of insight into the field’s performance. We can use this for targeting more in-depth soil inspection and analysis, as well as targeted monitoring and changing the management approach of following crops.
DATA POWER
The real power of this data will be to start to combine this with other data, such as soil information, satellite imagery and other field trends. Being able to create application plans based on the yield potential and the long-term nitrogen use efficiency of every soil zone on the farm could improve farm productivity, with higher yield and quality using less nitrogen fertiliser.
If the protein map is looked at in isolation then it has limited use, however, if the data layer is used, and combined with other relevant datasets and Omnia’s agronomic knowhow, this can provide something that has significant value to the grower.
Hutchinsons will be supporting the Harvest Lab systems in the field during 2023 to help the users understand how to use the data.
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