Nitrogen replenishment using variable rate application technique in a small hand-harvested pear orchard
Abstract
Precision agriculture is a management approach for sustainable agriculture. It can be applied even in small fields. It aims to optimize inputs, improve profits, and reduce adverse environmental impacts. In this study, a series of measurements were conducted over three growing seasons to assess variability in a 0.55 ha pear orchard located in central Greece. Soil ECa was measured using EM38 sensor, while soil samples were taken from a grid 17 × 8 m and analysed for texture, pH, P, K, Mg, CaCO3, and organic matter content. Data analysis indicated that most of the nutrients were at sufficient levels. Soil and yield maps showed considerable variability while fruit quality presented small variations across the orchard. Yield fluctuations were observed, possibly due to climatic conditions. Prescription maps were developed for nitrogen variable rate application (VRA) for two years based on the replacement of the nutrients removed by the crop. VRA application resulted in 56% and 50% reduction of N fertiliser compared to uniform application.
Downloads
References
Aggelopoulou KD, Wulfsohn D, Fountas S, Gemtos T, Nanos GD, Blackmore S, 2010. Spatial variation in yield and quality in a small apple orchard. Precis Agric 11: 538-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-009-9146-9
Aggelopoulou KD, Pateras D, Fountas S, Gemtos TA, Nanos G, 2011. Soil spatial variability and site-specific fertilisation maps in an apple orchard. Precis Agric 12: 118-129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-010-9161-x
Ampatzidis Y, Vougioukas S, Bohtis D, Tsatsarelis C, 2009. A yield mapping system for hand harvested fruits based on RFID and GPS location technologies. Precis Agric 10: 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-008-9095-8
Basso B, Sartori L, Cammarano D, Fiorentino C, Grace RP, Fountas S, 2012. Environmental and economic evaluation of N fertiliser rates in a maize crop in Italy: A spatial and temporal analysis using crop models. Biosyst Eng 113: 103-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.06.012
Batte MT, Arnholt MW, 2003. Precision farming adoption and use in Ohio: case studies of six leading-edge adopters. Comput Electron Agr 38: 125-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1699(02)00143-6
Carroll SS, Cressie N, 1996. A comparison of geostatistical methodologies used to estimate snow water equivalent. Water Recour Bull 32: 267-278. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1996.tb03450.x
Castrignanò A, Wong MTF, Stelluti M, De Benedetto D, Sollitto D, 2012. Use of EMI, gamma-ray emission and GPS height as multi-sensor data for soil characterisation. Geoderma 175-176: 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.01.013
Corwin DL, Lesch SM, 2005. Apparent soil electrical conductivity measurements in agriculture. Comput Electron Agr 46: 11-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2004.10.005
Daniel KW, Tripathi NK, Honda K, Apisit E, 2004. Analysis of VNIR (400-1100 nm) spectral signatures for estimation of soil organic matter in tropical soils of Thailand. Int J Remote Sens 25: 643-652. https://doi.org/10.1080/0143116031000139944
Dobermann A, Ferguson R, Hergert G, Shapiro C, Tarkalson D, Walters DT, Wortmann C, 2006. Nitrogen response in high-yielding corn systems of Nebraska. Proc Conf of Great Plains Soil Fertility, Denver (CO, USA), March 7-8. pp: 50-59.
Fleming KL, Westfall DG, Wiens DW, Brodahl MC, 2000. Evaluating farmer defined management zone maps for variable rate fertiliser application. Precis Agric 2: 201-215. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011481832064
Fountas S, Aggelopoulou K, Bouloulis K, Nanos GD, Wulfsohn D, Gemtos TA, Paraskevopoulos A, Galanis M, 2011. Site-specific management in an olive tree plantation. Precis Agric 12 (2): 179-195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-010-9167-4
Fraisse CW, Sudduth KA, Kitchen NR, 2001. Delineation of site-specific management zones by unsupervised classification of topographic attributes and soil electrical conductivity. T ASAE 44 (1): 155-166. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.2296
Gemtos T, Fountas S, Tagarakis A, Liakos V, 2013. Precision agriculture application in fruit crops: experience in handpicked fruits. 6th Int Conf on Information and Communication Technologies in Agriculture, Food and Environment (HAICTA 2013), Sept 19-22. pp: 324-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2013.11.043
Guo W, Maas SJ, Bronson KF, 2012. Relationship between cotton yield and soil electrical conductivity, topography, and Landsat imagery. Precis Agric 13: 678-692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-012-9277-2
Heege HJ (ed), 2013. Precision in crop farming: site specific concepts and sensing methods, applications and results. Springer Science and Business Media, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6760-7
Holland KH, Schepers JS, 2013. Use of a virtual-reference concept to interpret active crop canopy sensor data. Precis Agric 14 (1): 71-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-012-9301-6
IFA, 1992. World fertiliser use manual. International Fertiliser Association. http://www.fertiliser.org/En/Knowledge_Resources/Library/IFA_Selection_Fertiliser_Use. Accessed 25 July 2015.
IFA, 2009. The global 4R nutrient stewardship framework for developing and delivering fertilizer best management practices. In: IFA task force on fertilizer best management practices. International Fertiliser Association. http://www.fertilizer.org/ItemDetail?iProductCode=9677Pdf&Category=AGRI&WebsiteKey=411e9724-4bda-422f-abfc-8152ed74f306. [20 October 2017].
Johnson CK, Mortensen DA, Wienhold BJ, Shanahan JF, Doran JW, 2003. Site-specific management zones based on soil electrical conductivity in a semiarid cropping system. Agron J 95: 303-315. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2003.0303
Kader AA, 2002. Postharvest technology of horticultural crops. Univ of Calif Agr Nat Resour, Publ 3311 (3rd ed.), CA, USA.
Konopatzki MRS, Souza EG, Nóbrega LHP, Uribe-Opazo MA, Suszek G, 2012. Spatial variability of yield and other parameters associated with pear trees. Engenharia Agricola, Jaboticabal 32 (2): 381-392.
Koukoulakis P, 1995. Basic principles of rational fertilisation of crops. Crop Anim Husb 9: 43-61 [in Greek].
Legg JO, Meisinger JJ, 1982. Soil nitrogen budgets. In: Nitrogen in agricultural soils; Stevenson FJ (ed). Agron Monogr 22, pp: 503-566. ASA/CSSA/SSSA, Madison, WI, USA.
Li Y, Shi Z, Wu C, Li H, Li F, 2008. Determination of potential management zones from soil electrical conductivity, yield and crop data. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 9 (1): 68-76. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B071379
Liakos V, 2013. Precision agriculture techniques in apple orchard. Doctoral Thesis, Univ. of Thessaly, Greece [in Greek].
Liakos V, Tagarakis A, Vatsanidou A, Fountas S, Nanos GD, Gemtos, TA, 2013. Application of variable rate fertiliser in a commercial apple orchard. Proc 9th Europ Conf on Precis Agric, Lleida, Catalonia (Spain), Jul 7-11. pp: 675-681.
López Bellido L, Muñoz-Romero V, Benítez-Vega J, Fernández-García P, Redondo R, LópezBellido RJ, 2012. Wheat response to nitrogen splitting applied to Vertisols in different tillage systems and cropping rotations under typical Mediterranean climatic conditions. Eur J Agron 42: 2432.
Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR, 1982. Methods of soil analysis (2nd ed). Am Soc Agron, Madison, WI, USA.
Perry EM, Dezzani RJ, Seavert, CF, Pierce FJ, 2010. Spatial variation in tree characteristics and yield in a pear orchard. Precis Agric 11: 42-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-009-9113-5
Power JF, Schepers JS, 1989. Nitrate contamination of groundwater in North America. Agric Ecosyst Environ 26: 165-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(89)90012-1
Robertson GP, Vitousek PM, 2009. Nitrogen in agriculture: Balancing the cost of an essential resource. Annu Rev Environ Resour 34: 97-125. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.environ.032108.105046
Sánchez EE, 2002. Nitrogen nutrition in pear orchards. Acta Hort 596: 653-657. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.596.113
Sánchez EE, 2015. Nutrition and water management in intensive pear growing. Acta Hort 1094: 307-316. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1094.39
Schlegel AJ, Dhuyvetter KC, Havlin JL, 1996. Economic and environmental impacts of long-term nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisation. J Prod Agric 9: 114-118. https://doi.org/10.2134/jpa1996.0114
SPSS, 2008. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17.0. SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA.
Tagarakis A, Liakos, V, Fountas S, Koundouras S, Gemtos TA, 2013. Management zones delineation using fuzzy clustering techniques in grapevines. Precis Agric 14: 18-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-012-9275-4
USDA-NRCS, 1998. Keys to soil taxonomy, 8th Edition, US Dept of Agric-Nat Resour Conserv Serv, Washington, USA.
Wang D, Prato T, Qiu Z, Kitchen NR, Sudduth KA, 2003. Economic and environmental evaluation of variable rate nitrogen and lime application for claypan soil fields. Precis Agric 4: 35-52. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021858921307
Webster AD, 2002. Factors influencing the flowering, fruit set and fruit growth of European pears. Acta Hort 596: 699-709. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.596.121
Whelan BM, McBratney AB, 2001. The ''null hypothesis'' of precision agriculture management. Precis Agric 2: 265-279. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011838806489
Ystaas J, 1990. Pear tree nutrition: effects of different nitrogen supply via roots or leaves on yield, fruit size and fruit quality of 'Moltke' pear. J Acta Agr Scand 40 (4): 357-362. https://doi.org/10.1080/00015129009438570
Zaman Q, Schumann AW, 2006. Nutrient management zones for citrus based on variation in soil properties and tree performance. Precis Agric 7: 45-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-005-6789-z
Zaman Q, Schumann AW, Miller WM, 2005. Variable rate nitrogen application in Florida citrus based on ultrasonically-sensed tree size. Appl Eng Agr 21: 331-335. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.18448
Zhang N, Wang M, Wang N, 2002. Precision agriculture - A worldwide overview. Comput Electron Agr 36: 113-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1699(02)00096-0
Zude-Sasse M, Fountas S, Gemtos TA, Abu-Khalaf N, 2016. Applications of precision agriculture in horticultural crops. Eur J Hort Sci 81 (2): 78-90. https://doi.org/10.17660/eJHS.2016/81.2.2
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the printed and online versions of this Journal are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International” (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 License must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the published by the Editor, is not allowed.