Although options have been available on the market in the field of precision agriculture for many years, they have so far only been used to a limited extent in practical applications. As a result, few or no field reports exist and isolated technical solutions address individual measures, but do not result in overall farm utilisation and holistic process control. The aim of the "DigiMix-PA" project is to establish a practical example, integrated into a future farm in Groß Kreutz in Brandenburg, Germany, with a focus on precise fertiliser application. As this is a mixed farm, both organic and mineral nitrogen fertilisers are applied in different concentrations and cycles. The nutrient application is adapted spatially and temporally to the given conditions and absorption capacities of the plants. To do this, the ingredients of the fertilisers, the current nutrient requirement, the soil capacity and the weather conditions must be known. Remote sensing methods can be used to support decisions for the application of organic and mineral fertilisers by identifying recurring patterns in soil and vegetation properties. Soil and vegetation maps serve as reference points for management zoning, whereupon zones with different amounts of fertiliser are treated. Remote sensing sensors can also be used to quantify and subsequently assess the influence of different fertiliser applications. Field sensors, UAVs and satellite-based sensors are used so that different spatial, temporal and spectral resolutions are taken into consideration.

Link to further information: https://www.atb-potsdam.de/de/forschung/forschungsprojekte/projektsuche/projekt/projekt/digimix-pa