Cheapest way into variable rate fertiliser?

[Pottersfarm]

I’m thinking about variable rate fertiliser. What’s the cheapest way into it? I’ve got a variable rate spreader already.

 

[Phil P]

Depends how in depth you want to go and if you want to go to the trouble of zoning, sampling and creating your own maps or sign up to a subscription service such a soyl or Rhiza. There’s plenty of companies offering to zone and sample fields now but it does come at a cost.
Generally though samples are only taken every 3-4years so the initial cost is average out over that term.

I pay a quarterly subscription to Rhiza and they pretty much do everything, zoning, sampling etc. I also get satellite imagery, the ability to right my own vr seed files and vr N as well as other things.

 

[L P]

Don't use Soyl, idle bunch from my experience, there is some good tech out there to do it yourself, clever chlorophyll analysing cameras you can run on off the shelf drones, yield mapping can be used pretty successfully to find problem areas and transpose... buy the software and do it yourself. Or just cog it up or down and sod the tech

 

[Rich k]

I would think it would be to use a Trimble nomad connected to the spreader control box with a Y cable to control rate via gps

 

[PSQ]

Don't use Soyl, idle bunch from my experience, there is some good tech out there to do it yourself, clever chlorophyll analysing cameras you can run on off the shelf drones, yield mapping can be used pretty successfully to find problem areas and transpose... buy the software and do it yourself. Or just cog it up or down and sod the tech

Drones are actually pretty useless for measuring chlorophyl in a cloudy country, especially if it's over a big area and the light changes in any way. The better solution for VR is to use satellite NDVI images, but even then it can be up to 4 weeks between images in spring due to cloud cover and the fact that satellites typically only pass over 12 days a month.

There is something else to consider, an thats not to use VR fertiliser, but to instead use VR seed through the drill to even up cropping by the start of the spring fertiliser applications, and just flat rate apply the N.

With VR-N you're pretty much on the back foot all through the season, closing the door after the horse has bolted.
VR-seed allows full rate N to applied right across the farm, within reason, but only if all other limiting factors are considered (drainage, P, K, pH, etc).

 

[L P]

Drones are actually pretty useless for measuring chlorophyl in a cloudy country, especially if it's over a big area and the light changes in any way. The better solution for VR is to use satellite NDVI images, but even then it can be up to 4 weeks between images in spring due to cloud cover and the fact that satellites typically only pass over 12 days a month.

There is something else to consider, an thats not to use VR fertiliser, but to instead use VR seed through the drill to even up cropping by the start of the spring fertiliser applications, and just flat rate apply the N.

With VR-N you're pretty much on the back foot all through the season, closing the door after the horse has bolted.
VR-seed allows full rate N to applied right across the farm, within reason, but only if all other limiting factors are considered (drainage, P, K, pH, etc).

I'd not choose vrn and agree on seed rate You can get ndvi cameras for drones,, much more accurate apparently than satellite imagery

 

[e3120]

Drones are actually pretty useless for measuring chlorophyl in a cloudy country, especially if it's over a big area and the light changes in any way. The better solution for VR is to use satellite NDVI images, but even then it can be up to 4 weeks between images in spring due to cloud cover and the fact that satellites typically only pass over 12 days a month.

There is something else to consider, an thats not to use VR fertiliser, but to instead use VR seed through the drill to even up cropping by the start of the spring fertiliser applications, and just flat rate apply the N.

With VR-N you're pretty much on the back foot all through the season, closing the door after the horse has bolted.
VR-seed allows full rate N to applied right across the farm, within reason, but only if all other limiting factors are considered (drainage, P, K, pH, etc).

All that good logic is no use in you want to grab the SFI coin, though.

 

[Mounty]

Depends what VR you want to do. P & K or N or both. You'll need a few samples doing for P&K as a minimum. Depends on your field sizes but I'd say you need to split fields into 3 or 4 zones on average. SFI haven't determined areas for zone sampling yet AFAIAA. This will be the cheapest option for P&K to benefit from the £27/ha SFI payment.
VR N you can do yourself from satellite imagery quite cheaply. However, I was looking at some imagery today for a field and there was barely a clear image for the month of May.

You will need a device/controller of some sort (if you haven't already) to convert the spreading files into a language your spreader understands.
I'm selling some used Trimble gear soon. May have a couple suitable for VR but can't remember what we've got left.

 

[tullah]

You know your farm so just vary your forward speed to suit those areas. No need for all the other gismos and stuff.

 

[dynosoar]

I was thinking about this the other day.
I have a rate control spreader. It was designed to run from a pulse signal for speed but I have converted to a gps signal generator to allow more accurate control.
Now, if this signal was varied by positional data the rate would then be controlled. Much like going faster / slower as mentioned above.
the SFI definition of variable rate could be quite flexible I suppose. I have not studied the detail on that.

A

 

[aidan]

I was thinking about this the other day.
I have a rate control spreader. It was designed to run from a pulse signal for speed but I have converted to a gps signal generator to allow more accurate control.
Now, if this signal was varied by positional data the rate would then be controlled. Much like going faster / slower as mentioned above.
the SFI definition of variable rate could be quite flexible I suppose. I have not studied the detail on that.

A

how did you do the current conversion to use gps signal, did you do it DIY or manufacturer did it.

 

[Phil P]

how did you do the current conversion to use gps signal, did you do it DIY or manufacturer did it.

Most gps systems will have a speed output which is basically just a pulse same as a wheel speed sensor. Will just be a case of making sure it’s sending the right number of pulses.

 

[dynosoar]

how did you do the current conversion to use gps signal, did you do it DIY or manufacturer did it.

It is a while back now but I realised that the gps speed signal on my Simtech drill was just out putting a pulse signal like a shaft sensor. A bit of online research found a gps board that did the job for not a lot of money.
then it was a simple job of plugging it in where the usual sensor went and entering the correct number. I think the number of pulses per whatever is a standard figure for these things.
It does a great job of taking out the worry about wheel speed with regards to load and wheel slip.
A

 

[Hesstondriver]

You know your farm so just vary your forward speed to suit those areas. No need for all the other gismos and stuff.

I have constant forward speed, but vary the width

 

[dynosoar]

It is a while back now but I realised that the gps speed signal on my Simtech drill was just out putting a pulse signal like a shaft sensor. A bit of online research found a gps board that did the job for not a lot of money.
then it was a simple job of plugging it in where the usual sensor went and entering the correct number. I think the number of pulses per whatever is a standard figure for these things.
It does a great job of taking out the worry about wheel speed with regards to load and wheel slip.
A

GPS Road Speed Signal Interface

GPS Road Speed Signal Interface

www.bridgwater-electronics.co.uk

link to the type of device.
quote - Pulsed Output: 1 Hz / MPH (3600 pulses/mile, 2237 pulses/km)
and it runs on 12v.
i put it inside a rubbolite junction box so that I could see the led easily through the clear window and mounted that onto a magnet for roof placement and to be easily trasferable.
although at about £40 it won’t break the bank. You could probably find one for less than a tenner if you really search about though.

A

 

[GeoPard]

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[dannewhouse]

Had Arvorum recommended for this job but haven't researched properly yet.

What would be needed to start variable p and k with a view to going all out p k S? Lime N
In the future seed.

 

[Danieljack1991]

We can do variable rate N,P, K and Ph prescription maps at a fraction of the cost of what the big boys charge