2. HISTORY OF PRECISION FARMING
The concept of precision agriculture first emerged in the United States in
the early 1980s. In 1985, researchers at the University of Minnesota
varied lime inputs in crop fields. It was also at this time that the practice
of grid sampling appeared (applying a fixed grid of one sample per
hectare). Towards the end of the 1980s, this technique was used to derive
the first input recommendation maps for fertilizers and pH corrections.
The use of yield sensors developed from new technologies, combined
with the advent of GPS receivers, has been gaining ground ever since.
Today, such systems cover several million hectares.
3. PRECISION FARMING IN INDIA
As profitable as this technology can be, it is still at a nascent stage in
India. Companies like Trimble, Tata Kisan Kendra (TKK), and Fasal,
among many others, are working to introduce this concept to Indian
farmers. TKK, which is an initiative launched by Tata Chemicals Limited
(TCL), has the vision to propel rustic India from the ancient farm
practices into the modern age of satellites and IT. TCL’s extension
services are conveyed to farmers by the TKKs, using remote-sensing to
assess soil conditions, examine crop health, pest invasions, and crop yield
prediction. They assist the farmers in adapting promptly to varying
conditions leading to enhanced crop production and higher earnings for
farmers.
4. WHAT IS PRECISION
AGRICULTURE?
Precision agriculture, satellite farming or site specific crop
management is a farming management concept based on
observing, measuring and responding to inter and intra-field
variability in crops. A key component of this farm management
approach is the use of information technology and a wide array of
items such as GPS guidance, control systems, sensors, robotics,
drones, autonomous vehicles, variable rate technology, GPS-based
soil sampling, automated hardware, telematics, and software.
5. WHY PRECISION
AGRICULTURE ?
To increase agriculture productivity
Prevents soil degradation
Reduction of chemical application in crop production
Efficient use of water resources
Dissemination of modern farm practices to improve quality, quantity and reduced
cost of production
Developing favorable attitudes
Precision farming changing the socio-economic status of farmers
7. CONCEPTS
Overall yield increase-
• The precise selection of crop varieties, the application of
exact types and doses of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides,
and appropriate irrigation meet the demands of crops for
optimum growth and development.
• This leads to yield increase, especially in areas or fields
where uniform crop management practices were
traditionally practiced.
8. •Reduced production costs-The application of exact
quantities at the appropriate time reduces the cost of
agrochemical inputs in crop production. In addition, the
overall high yield reduces the cost per unit of output.
•Better decision-making in agricultural
management- Agricultural machinery, equipment and
tools help farmers acquire accurate information, which
is processed and analyzed for appropriate decision
making in land preparation, seeding, fertilizer,
pesticide and herbicide application, irrigation and
drainage, and post-production activities.
9. Reduced environmental impact-
• The timely application of agrochemicals at an
accurate rate avoids excessive residue in soils and
water and thus reduces environmental pollution
Efficiency improvement- Advanced technologies
including machinery, tools and information, help
farmers to increase the efficiency of labor, land and
time in farming.
10. PRECISION FARMING v/s TRADITIONAL FARMING
S.NO PRECISION FARMING TRADITIONAL
FARMING
1. FARM FIELD IS BROKEN INTO
“MANAGEMENT ZONES”
WHOLE FIELD
APPROACH WHERE
FIELD IS TREATED AS A
HOMOGENOUS AREA
2. MANAGEMENT DECISIONS ARE BASED
ON REQUIREMENTS OF EACH ZONE
DECISIONS ARE BASED
ON FIELD AVERAGES
3. PRECISION FARMING TOOLS ARE USED
FOR APPLICATION.
INPUTS ARE APPLIED
UNIFORMLY ACROSS A
FIELD
12. 1.GEOLOCATING
• Geo locating a field enables the farmer to overlay information
gathered from analysis of soils and residual nitrogen, and
information on previous crops and soil resistivity. Geo
location is done in two ways -
1. The field is delineated using an in-vehicle GPS receiver as the
farmer drives a tractor around the field.
2. The field is delineated on a base map derived from aerial or
satellite imagery. The base images must have the right level
of resolution and geometric quality to ensure that
geolocation is sufficiently accurate.
13. 2.VARIABILITY
Intra and inter-field variability may result from a
number of factors. These include climatic conditions
(hail, drought, rain, etc. ), soils (texture, depth,
nitrogen levels), cropping practices (no-till farming),
weeds and disease.
Permanent indicators are chiefly soil indicators—
provide farmers with information about the main
environmental constants. Point indicators allow
them to track a crop's status, i.e., to see whether
diseases are developing, if the crop is suffering from
water stress, nitrogen stress, or lodging, whether it
14. 3.STRATEGIES
Using soil maps, farmers can pursue two strategies to adjust field inputs:
• Predictive approach: based on analysis of static indicators (soil, resistivity, field
history, etc.) during the crop cycle.
• Control approach: information from static indicators is regularly updated during
the crop cycle by:
Sampling: weighing biomass, measuring leaf chlorophyll content, weighing fruit,
etc.
Remote sensing: measuring parameters like temperature (air/soil), humidity
(air/soil/leaf), wind or stem diameter is possible
Proxy-detection: in-vehicle sensors measure leaf status; this requires the farmer
to drive around the entire field.
Aerial or satellite remote sensing: multispectral imagery is acquired and
processed to derive maps of crop biophysical parameters, including indicators of
disease.
15. IMPLEMENTING PRACTICES
New information and communication technologies make field level crop
management more operational and easier to achieve for farmers. Application
of crop management decisions calls for agricultural equipment that supports
variable-rate technology (VRT), for example varying seed density along with
variable-rate application (VRA) of nitrogen and phytosanitary products.
Practices used-
1.Positioning system (e.g. GPS receivers that use satellite signals to precisely
determine a position on the globe);
2.Geographic information systems (GIS) i.e., software that makes sense of all
the available data.
3.Variable-rate farming equipment (seeder, spreader).
16. BENEFITS OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE
SIMPLIFIED FARMING
PROCESS
IMPROVED FARMING
PROCEDURE
COVER CROP
NO TILL METHOD
BETTER FARM MACHINERY FERTIGATION
MORE COST EFFICIENT
FARMING
MORE TIME ON THEIR
HANDS
HIGHER YIELD AND MORE
PROFITABILITY LESS WASTE
HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE
17. 1. Simplified Farming Processes Precision farmers are finding that
the ordinary day to day farm processes are becoming easier to
manage and this is as a direct result of technology implementation
and streamlining procedures.
2. Improved Farming Procedures We have compiled a short list of 4 farming
procedures that have been improved greatly using precision farming
methods.
3. Cover Crops Farmers are using cover crops to protect soil during
off seasons and also make extra revenue from the sale of the crops.
4. Strip Tilling/No-Till Methods. Strip tilling reduces the damage
done to fields by completing a traditional full till and also allows for
organic matter to be left and fertilize the soil naturally.
18. 5.Better Farm Machinery Running heavy duty farm equipment
over fields often causes soil damage and compacting,
technology companies and machinery developers have created
tractors and combines with sensors to reduce compacting from
tracks and wheels.
6.Variable Rate Fertilization and Irrigation (Fertigation). Precise
systems that use sensors to gauge crop quality and irrigation
needs. These provide fertilizer and water where needed as and
when it is needed.
FARM MACHINERY FERTIGATION
19. 7.More Cost-Efficient Farming
• Precision farming aims to reduce a farmer’s expenditure by
minimizing the need for things like fertilizer, pesticide and
herbicide. Over a growing season, grower’s are seeing significant
reductions in the amount of money they are spending on all of the
above where technology is using the components sparingly and
only where needed.
8.More Time on Their Hands
• Accompanying the simplified processes, farmers are finding they
are freeing up a lot more time to concentrate on the business
operations of their farms so that they can focus their energy on
making the farm more profitable.
20. 9.Higher Yields and More Profitability
• Statistically, a precision farmer will make more money than a traditional
farmer. Their yields are higher because they have improved growing practices
and they are able to sell more produce at the end of the season as a result
10.Better Quality Produce
• Implementing better growing processes is providing produce that is of a
higher quality. This is done in many ways such as actively monitoring the
nutrients in soil, strip tilling and irrigating plants correctly and when irrigation
is needed.
11.Less Waste
• Lost crop is a nightmare for farmers, and over a growing season there is
expectation that a certain number of plants will not see the season through.
With streamlined growing processes and healthier plants that crops have a
much better chance of surviving and growing seasons are becoming more
sustainable
21. 12.Less Debt
• Precision farmers are no more able to avoid debt as a traditional
farmer however they are able to clear it quicker because they have
more money to pay it down. This is as a result of the increased
profitability and many precision farmers are now debt free or taking
big steps towards becoming debt free.
13.Higher Quality of Life
• Farming is a difficult and exhausting job. Farmer suicide rates are
high and overall quality of life was typically non-existent. Precision
farming is changing this rapidly, and as a result of the things we
have mentioned on the list they are experiencing a better quality of
life with a reduction in stress levels
22. TOOLS FOR PRECISION AGRICUTURE
1. Global Positioning System
2. Geographical Information System
3. Grid Sampling
4. Variable Rate Technology
5. Yield Monitors
6. Yield Maps
7. Auto Guidance Systems
8. Proximate Sensors
9. Remote Sensing
10.Computer Hardware and Software
23. 1. Global positioning system
GPS is a set of satellites that identify the location of farm equipment within a meter of
an actual site in the field.
The value of knowing a precision location within inches is that:
• Location of soil samples and the laboratory results can be compared to a soil map.
• Fertilizer and pesticides can be prescribed to fit soil properties (clay and organic matter
content) and soil conditions (relief and drainage)
• Tillage adjustments can be made as one finds various conditions across the field and
• One can monitor and record yield data as one goes across the field. The GPS technology
provides accurate positioning system necessary for field implementation of variable rate
technology. The present internet makes possible the development of a mechanism for
effective farm management using remote sensing.
24. Satellite Type Satellite Objectives
Multispectral imaging satellite Resourcesat-2 & Resourcesat-2A Multispectral imaging for crop
production forecast, land, water and
natural resource inventory and
management, and disaster management
support
Cartography satellite Cartosat-1 High resolution cartographic mapping,
digital elevation mapping – drainage and
irrigation networks, topographic
mapping and contouring
Radar imaging RISAT-1 All weather imaging capability targeted
for kharif crop (June to November)
during south-west and north-east
monsoon seasons. Flood and natural
disaster management
25. 2. Geographical information system (GIS)
A geographical information system (GIS) consists
of a computer software data base system used to
input, store, retrieve, analyze and display, in map
like form, spatially referenced geographical information.
3. Grid sampling
Grid sampling is a method of breaking a field into
blocks of about 0.5-5 ha. The sampling soils within
those grids to determine appropriate application rates.
Several samples are taken from each grid, mixed and
sent into the laboratory for analysis.
26. 4. Variable rate technology
Variable rate technology (VRT) consists
of farm field equipment with the ability to
precisely control the rate of application of
crop inputs that can be varied in their application
commonly include tillage, fertilizer, weed control,
insect control, plant population and irrigation.
5. Yield monitors
Yield monitors are crop yield measuring
devices installed on harvesting equipment.
The yield data from the monitor is recorded and
stored at regular intervals alongwith positional
data received from GPS unit. GIS software takes
the yield data and produce yield maps.
27. 6. Yield maps
Yield maps are produced by processing data
from adopted combine harvester that is
equipped with a GPS that is integrated with a
yield recording system.
7.Auto-guidance systems
Auto-guidance system allows farmers to maintain straight rows during farm
operations and to come back to the same rows the next season. They allow
more precise input application with these systems.
8. Proximate sensors
Proximate sensors can be used to measure soil (N and pH) and crop
properties as the tractor passes over the field. The soil sample is scooped,
pressed against an electrode, stabilization period of about 10-15 seconds
allowed, and the reading taken.
28. 9. Remote sensors
Remote sensors are generally categorized as aerial or satellite sensors. They can indicate
variations in field color that corresponds to changes in soil type, crop development, field
boundaries, roads, water etc. Remote science in agricultural terms means viewing crop from
overhead (from a satellite or low flying aircraft) without coming into contact, recording what
is viewed and displaying the image and provide the map to pinpoint the field problems more
earlier and more effectively. In remote sensing, information transfer is accomplished by use
of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). EMR is a form of energy that reveals its presence by the
observable effects it produces when it strikes the matter. Due to remote sensing we have been
able to observe large regions suitable for agriculture, making use of sensors to measure
energy at wavelengths which are beyond the range of human vision (ultraviolet infrared, etc.)
and globally monitoring earth possible from nearly any site. Remote sensing technology can
be used to provide valuable information on various agricultural resources which influences
production. Some of the broad agricultural application areas are:
29. 1.Water stress:
The use of remote sensors to directly measure soil moisture has
had very limited success.
2.Insect detection:
Aerial or satellite remote sensing has not been successfully used to
identify and locate insects directly. Indirect detection of insects
through the detection of plant stress has generally been used in
annual crops.
3.Nutrient stress:
Plant nitrogen stress areas can be located in the field using high-
resolution colour infrared aerial images. The reflectance of near
infrared, visible red and visible green wavelengths have a high
correlation to the amount of applied nitrogen in the field.
30. 4.Crop production forecasting:
It includes the identification of crops, acreage estimation and yield
forecasting.
5.Soil mapping:
Soil maps afford the information on the suitability and limitation of the
soil for agricultural production, which are helpful in selection of proper
cropping system and optimal land use planning.
6.Wasteland mapping:
Information on degraded and wasteland e.g. salt affected areas, acidic
soils, eroded soils, water logged area, dryland etc.
31. 10. Computer hardware and software
In order to analyses the data collected by other precision agriculture
technology components and to make it available in usable formats such
as maps, graphs, charts or reports, computer support is needed.
32. DRAWBACKS
High cost
Lack of technical expertise knowledge and technology
Not applicable or difficult/costly for small land holdings
Heterogeneity of cropping systems and market imperfections
33. Challenges To Precision Farming In India
Resistance in adopting new technology:
High illiteracy among Indian farmers holds them back from adopting technology in
agriculture practices. Various initiatives taken by public and private sector towards ICT
adoptability in agriculture has not generated desired result in terms of awareness, and
adoptability.
Economic Challenges:
Higher initial cost-Precision farming includes many expensive machines and
tools which are beyond the economic reach of small and marginal farmers. Operational
cost of machine and tools under precision agriculture are the fear factor for its
adoption. Financial credit to farmers can help to stimulate agriculture technology adoption.
Social And Behavioural Factors-
The lack of awareness and absence of dedicated education of precision agriculture
among farming communities is major obstacle for its adoption. Indian farming is
predominated by age old farming practices. The same agriculture practices are being carried
out from generation. Resistance and rigidity are two major hurdles in adoption of precision
farming.
34. Connectivity Challenges-
As technology progresses and the Internet of Things is increasingly a part of the farmer’s arsenal,
connectivity becomes an increasing challenge. Relying on a strong internet connection - 4G or higher will be
required for many new technologies in precision agriculture - is a gamble when rural locations are often
inherent in the business models of customers. Especially in the developing world, but across North America
too, a lack of good connectivity will pose a barrier to uptake in technology and slow the rise of precision
agriculture. Digital farming can only progress as long as connectivity speeds keep up.
A Lack Of Scalability-
Agriculture can exist on any scale, from one-man operations to powerful conglomerates operating
over hundreds of hectares. Often, the problems encountered by each operation will be similar, and require
similar solutions. For precision agriculture to take hold, any technology that farmers are expected to
implement must be scalable to the size of their own operation. Personal gardens and industrial agriculture
should be able to leverage the same tools for precision farming to become ubiquitous. What’s more, for these
tools to be optimized they should be able to self-configure without the need for time-consuming manual
adjustments based on local characteristics.
Data Management In Agriculture
Even a small contemporary farm has hundreds of thousands of data points where information can be
gathered. Trying to understand this data as it surges in on a daily basis is an impossible task, and even
attempting to process this data in real time will be a losing battle for precision agriculturalists.
35. “ICAR-Network Programme on Precision Agriculture (ICAR-NePPA)”
The Network Programme has been developed initially involving 16 partner Institutes
(covering major zones) with the ICAR-IARI as lead. Considering the challenges in Indian
agriculture and opportunities in advances of technologies, digital ecosystem and recent
government initiatives, the programme is well designed to develop precision AG-Techs
for sustained enhanced input use and production system with safe environment and
quality produce to make agriculture a profit making enterprise.
-(Source: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi)
36. CONCLUSION
Precision agriculture aims to optimize field-level
management with regard to crop science by matching farming
practices more closely to crop needs.
Its implementation might take several years before you have
sufficient data to fully implement the system.
Initial capital cost may ne high and so it should be seen as a
long term investment.
Minimize the risk to the environment particularly with
respect to nitrate leaching and groundwater contamination via
the optimization of agrochemical products.
37. SOURCE AND REFERENCES
• http://www.journalcra.com/sites/default/files/Download%20366.pdf)
• Precision Agriculture - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
• Precision Agriculture | Home
• What is Precision Agriculture and How is Technology Enabling it?
• ADVANTAGES OF PRECISION AGRICUTURE - Google Search
• The Benefits of Modern Precision Farming
• Modern-farming-620x330.jpg
• Tools of precision farming
• http://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/agriculture/why-farmers-today-need-
to-take-uo-precision-farming-64659
