2012 Optical Sensing Nitrogen Management Group

August 6-8 - Fargo, North Dakota

Results Using Optical Sensors in South BrazilAgronomist Engineer, Dr. Fabrício PovhFundação ABC – Castro – Brazil

Three Dutch CooperativesABC Foundation was created in October 23, 1984.

985 associates Arapoti - PR

601 associatesCarambeí - PR

718 associatesCastro - PR

Recently more two Cooperatives

CoopagricolaPonta Grossa – PR

HolambraParanapanema – SP

Área de atuação

Fundação ABC

Main

Partners

360,000 hectares1 million liters of milk/day

Batavo

Castrolanda

Capal

Fundação ABC

Coopagrícola

Holambra

67 municipals

Experimental Fields

- Ponta Grossa – 74.88 ha

- Castro – 139.40 ha

- Tibagi – 21.37 ha

- Arapoti – 25.92 ha

- Itaberá – 51.64 ha

Total: 313 hectares

- For each 8 hectares from farmers, the

ABC Foundation has 1 plot

- 45,000 plots / year (Summer/Winter)

experimental fields

Annual average temperature

• Crops in ABC group

• Summer: Soybeans, Corn (grain and silage), Beans

• Winter: Wheat, Oats (black and white), Rye Grass, Canola, Barley

• Sensors in Brazil– GreenSeeker – Trimble – Santiago&Cintra;– N-sensor – Yara – Stara;– OptRX – AgLeader – Jacto;– Topcon – Massey Ferguson (AGCO Group).

First Experiment (Nitrogen Rates in Wheat)

y = -1E-05x2 + 0,0034x + 0,6582

R2 = 0,98**

y = -2E-05x2 + 0,0032x + 0,6878R2 = 0,96**

0.600

0.650

0.700

0.750

0.800

0.850

0.900

0 30 60 90 120

Dose de N (kg ha-1)

ND

VI (

76 D

AS

)

Cambissolo LatossoloInceptisol Oxisol

N Rates

Feek

es 1

0

70 – 120 – 25 – 70 – 0 – 120 – 25 – 70 – 25 – 120Nitrogen Rates

600m T3 T1 T3 T3 T1 T3 T3 T1 T3 T3 T1 T3 T4 T2 T4 T4 T2 T4 T4 T2 T4 T4 T2 T4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6 m 11m 6m23,7 m 3,30 m

Wheat (2007)Tibagi – PR – Brazil

Treatments N (sowing) N (pre-plant) N (Feekes 3) N (Feekes 10) N (Total)

1 18 0 0 Sensor 18

2 18 34 0 Sensor 52

3 18 0 102 0 120

4 18 34 68 0 120

20 kg N/ha

40 kg N/ha

60 kg N/ha

1

2

3

Elevation (m)

Speeds and Rates

20 kg N/ha – 9.0 km/h – 4ª II R

40 kg N/ha – 4.5 km/h – 2ª II R

60 kg N/ha – 3.0 km/h – 1ª II R

Nitro LL – 35% of N – 2:1 (water) – 2.5 bar

20 kg N/ha – 57.1 L – 171.4 L/ha

40 kg N/ha – 114.3 L – 342.9 L/ha

60 kg N/ha – 171.4 L/ha – 514.3 L/ha

It would be applied: 250 kg N

It was applied: 76 kg N

Saving: 70%

18 kg/ha 52 kg/ha

It would be applied: 195 kg N

It was applied: 109 kg N

Saving: 44%

VR – 3568 kg/ha

FR – 3546 kg/haVR – 3053 kg/ha

FR – 3026 kg/ha

Yield Map

Higher NDVI:Plots 1 to 4

Lower NDVI:Plots 5 to 8

Wheat (2011)Castro – PR – Brazil

Sowing fertilizer: 300 kg/ha 14-34-00 = 42 kg of NTop-dressing: 200 kg/ha 22-00-21 = 44 kg of NN total = 86 kg/ha

Plots 1-4 – Higher response: RI = 1.07 – N Rate: 44 kg/haHigher NDVI Values

Plots 5-8 – Lower response: RI = 1.03 – N Rate: 18 kg/haLower NDVI Values

5.590 A 5.439 A

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

Sensor Farmer

Yiel

d (t

ha-1

)

Higher Response Index (86 kg N ha-1) Pr > F: 0,63

5.750 A4.944 B

0.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.0

60 kg N/ha 86 kg N/ha

Sensor Farmer

Yiel

d (t

ha-1

)

Lower Response Index Pr > F: 0,03*

Loss of yield with high N rates in low N response years

5.415 b

5.730 ab

5.936 a

5.775 ab 5.720 ab

5.539 b

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.8

6.0

6.2

0 30 60 90 120 150

Yiel

d (t

ha-1

)

Nitrogen Rates (kg ha-1)

0.743 b

0.760 b

0.784 a 0.784 a 0.787 a0.775 a

0.720.730.740.750.760.770.780.790.80

0 30 60 90 120 150

ND

VI

Nitrogen Rates (kg ha-1)

Feekes 10

The opposite!!

N Rich Strip

Lower potential yield zoneRI = 1,29

Higher potential yield zoneRI = 1,15

N Rich Strip at the wrong place!!!Wheat (2012)

Higher NDVI zoneRI = 1.006 (Very Low Response)SI = 0.994

Lower NDVI zone???

4.294 b4.642 a

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

N Rich Strip Sensor

98 kg/ha 55 kg/haYi

eld

(t/h

a)

26 plots harvestedside-by-side (13 points)N Rich Strip x Sensor

110 ha – Wheat (2011)

The use of optical sensors to map

spatial variability

Corn – 2.86 ha – Ponta Grossa – PR

NDVI

Corn Yield (kg/ha)

Soil Base Saturation (V%)

Clay Soil EC

NDVI - Wheat Management Zones

• Other uses:– Growth regulator in wheat and cotton;– Desiccants for potatoes and beans;

Thanks!!

Dr. Fabrício Povhfabricio@fundacaoabc.org.brPhone: +55 42 2322-2662www.fundacaoabc.org.brCastro – Paraná – Brazil