Field Management Tool for Agrochemical Application

University of Missouri System: University of Missouri-Columbia
posted on 07/26/2011

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With increasing costs of inputs and rising concerns over environmental contamination, effective management tools are required for the application of fertilizers and other agrochemicals to maximize efficiency and reduce environmental losses. For example, enhanced efficiency fertilizer, such as slow-release fertilizers, can reduce the risks of nutrient loss compared to conventional fertilizers, but at a higher cost. One strategy to overcome in-field differences in potential nutrient loss is to apply the enhanced efficiency fertilizer to the high risk nutrient loss areas of a field while applying conventional fertilizer to the low risk areas. An invention that would assist farmers to identify and map the low and high risk areas of a field and then facilitate the application of multiple agrochemicals in a field based on those identified areas would help to increase profits and lower environmental losses.

The current invention developed by researchers at the University of Missouri is a software tool and algorithm to determine and apply different types and amounts of agrochemical sources to predetermined zones within a field. The tool takes into account spatial differences in intrinsic soil properties that affect agrochemical efficiency including soil drainage and water content. It allows for storage of historical data so that better management practices can be achieved and thus increasing productivity while reducing negative environmental impact.

• Maps zones vulnerable to agrochemical loss or reduced efficiency based on spatial differences in soil and environmental properties
• Field management and control of variable source agrochemical application
• Establishes geographically-referenced application history

• Makes field management easy
• Optimizes the use of agrochemical applications
• Reduces potential negative environmental impact of agrochemical application