Speaker
Description
Technological advances in agricultural machinery, sensing technologies and spatial data analysis provide new opportunities to characterize field variability and adapt crop management practices to site-specific conditions. These approaches are particularly relevant for agricultural systems characterized by large field sizes and high spatial variability, such as those in the Czech Republic, where optimization of fertilizer and crop protection inputs represents an important pathway towards improving resource efficiency and sustainability.
This study presents a methodological framework for designing and evaluating field experiments focused on site-specific crop management practices. The approach integrates digital soil mapping, crop monitoring using proximal and remote sensing, and yield records to delineate management zones. Field trials conducted with commercial farms in 2020–2025 compare variable-rate and uniform applications and evaluate crop productivity and input efficiency under practical farming conditions.
Recent studies conducted at MENDELU demonstrate the potential of variable-rate nitrogen application for improving nutrient management in cereal production. Reducing nitrogen rates by up to 80 kg N ha⁻¹ in consistently low-yielding zones, where crop response and nutrient uptake capacity are limited, resulted in more balanced nitrogen budgets and reduced excessive fertilizer application compared with uniform management.
The concept is currently being extended towards crop protection within the NAZV QL25020034 research project, focusing on site-specific pesticide applications using advanced spraying technologies. Patch and spot spraying approaches based on UAV imagery and on-board sensors are evaluated for weed management. Initial results indicate substantial potential for reducing herbicide use (20–80%) through patch and spot spraying based on weed infestation maps. Satellite-based monitoring is further used for optimizing plant growth regulator and fungicide applications according to spatial differences in crop density and development.
The presented results demonstrate that integrating sensing technologies, variable-rate applications and spatially explicit field experimentation provides an effective approach for evaluating site-specific management practices. These methods support efficient use of fertilizers and crop protection products while maintaining stable crop production and reducing unnecessary environmental pressure.
| Are you participating to the "AnaEE Environmental Rising Star Award "? | No |
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