N Sensor

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
I guess that the water droplets in the cloud absorb the water signal. Satellite tv suffers from this, but it all depends on wavelengths used.

Most planes fly in or above cloud

I’m no expert though but wasn’t aware of any issue this year using it over all N applications
 
Most planes fly in or above cloud

I’m no expert though but want aware if any issue this year using it over all N applications

I also am no expert, but having worked in broadcast radio and having a step father who worked in broadcast TV, i'm aware that rain and cloud does effect signals, it does depend on the wavelengths used, but moisture in the air can severely hamper signals.
 

Tom H

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Vale of Belvoir
Satellite radar images - basically a measure of total crop biomass form space. Not cloud cover effected as its radar so reliable regular images.

Think of NDVI (N sensor or most sat or drone based N systems) as 2d and SAR as 3d images

The agronomy / application models are "absolute" for OSR and wheat and I believe other crops will follow soon. Used it for first time last year and rate it higher than my experience of sensors so far


So you tell it nothing other than application number, growth stage , fert strength and yield potential? No rate imputed from yourself? OSR and wheat etc? How quickly can you get an up to date "picture"?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
So you tell it nothing other than application number, growth stage , fert strength and yield potential? No rate imputed from yourself? OSR and wheat etc? How quickly can you get an up to date "picture"?

you don't have to tell it any of that ! - the remote sensing in combination with the agromnic modelling knows growth stage, plant number, yield potential etc - it was pretty good at working out all those when we ground truthed to check last year

The only data you give it re the crop is drilling date

to create a plan you tell it what strength product your using of course yes

Can get a "picture" twice daily if you like ODR and what only so far but I think Barley might be available this next year

Makes N sensor look like old tech TBH plus its a 3d plant biomass model you are basing applications on not just a 2d picture of canopy
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
you don't have to tell it any of that ! - the remote sensing in combination with the agromnic modelling knows growth stage, plant number, yield potential etc - it was pretty good at working out all those when we ground truthed to check last year

The only data you give it re the crop is drilling date

to create a plan you tell it what strength product your using of course yes

Can get a "picture" twice daily if you like ODR and what only so far but I think Barley might be available this next year

Makes N sensor look like old tech TBH plus its a 3d plant biomass model you are basing applications on not just a 2d picture of canopy

Slightly off topic, how did you get on with the yield prediction model? Was it anywhere near accurate?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Slightly off topic, how did you get on with the yield prediction model? Was it anywhere near accurate?

Very good on OSR (almost 100%).

Ended up a bit out on wheat but it was an unusual season where we lost yield late - still ofrederd the fields well though ie best field and worst etc

Overall pretty good and I expect it will onporve as the get more data to model
 

snarling bee

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire
All the studies and trials I have seen indicate that 220kg N ha on a (feed) wheat crop is the right number irrespective of most other factors. The curve is also very flat, i.e. if you are a bit light or heavy with the N then the margin will not significantly alter.
So what are you guys trying to do? Reduce the N on the best bit of the field to even up the crop at the expense of total yield? Increase the N on the poor bits that will never yield? Are you Robin Hood or King John? Can you predict crop requirement accurately when there is still 4 months to harvest and who knows what the weather will do? The SMN varies wildly every square meter, how accurate can you be? 2m tramlines? And all the trials and algorithms are from a fertiliser and sensor supplier, so must be true then!
I do VR seed, P, K, Mg and lime (which all has limitations); call me old fashioned, but I cannot see the reasoning for VR N except in exceptional circumstances.
 

ajd132

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Suffolk
All the studies and trials I have seen indicate that 220kg N ha on a (feed) wheat crop is the right number irrespective of most other factors. The curve is also very flat, i.e. if you are a bit light or heavy with the N then the margin will not significantly alter.
So what are you guys trying to do? Reduce the N on the best bit of the field to even up the crop at the expense of total yield? Increase the N on the poor bits that will never yield? Are you Robin Hood or King John? Can you predict crop requirement accurately when there is still 4 months to harvest and who knows what the weather will do? The SMN varies wildly every square meter, how accurate can you be? 2m tramlines? And all the trials and algorithms are from a fertiliser and sensor supplier, so must be true then!
I do VR seed, P, K, Mg and lime (which all has limitations); call me old fashioned, but I cannot see the reasoning for VR N except in exceptional circumstances.
I cannot see the point in anything VR apart from seed.
 

Piggy

Member
Location
Nottinghamshire
How do people using the n-sensor apply there sulphur. We would normally apply sulphur nitrogen 1st dressing on all cereals then straight n. On rape normally apply Singletop 1st and 2nd dressing then top up with N. Would the better areas of the field suffer from not enough sulphur being applied
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
The best way to manage that would be if you used an N+S product for your last dose when you're feeding the better areas more. Can you use Single Top as your last dose & use straight N for the second pass? Every kg of sulphur ought to go with 3-5 kg of N in an ideal world. The N:S ratio varies with crop and soil type.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Personal view is up towards 100kg/ha so3 is now needed but getting that on is hard work as most sulphur based liquids are low content.

You need to examine liquid fertiliser options better before posting. You can have a number of varying sulphur contents.

upload_2019-1-10_10-33-25.png

https://www.yara.co.uk/crop-nutrition/fertiliser/liquid/

Omex, BFS etc have a similar range.
 

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