Precision farming is a modern farming practice where advanced technologies like field mapping, satellite imagery, and GPS are used to improve farming efficiency, crop quality and returns.
Moreover, the precision farming concept helps optimize the use of conventional agri-resources such as water, seeds, fuel, etc.
What are the Advantages of Precision Farming?
Farmers can reap a lot of benefits from precision farming. It dramatically improves efficiency, cuts down initial costs and increases output. Hence, precision farming is helpful for farmers and the environment as well.
Moreover, these areas are interconnected since ecological degradation worsens conditions for farming. So, here is a list of benefits of such a control system. Read on to find out the importance of precision farming.
Advantages of Precision Farming
Advantages of precision farming include:
- Ability to collect real-time data on the variables occurring in the crop fields.
- Reduction in the use of inputs and labour, thus reducing costs.
- Furthermore, increased product quality, as the exact requirements of the crop, are met.
- More efficient irrigation.
- Also, reduction in carbon footprint due to less usage of agrochemicals and the rational use of water.
- Early alarm in climatic catastrophes, such as frost or rain.
Top Technological Components of Precision Farming
Precision farming needs special equipment and software to collect and analyze data. Precision farming technology can be classified into ground, aerial, and satellite.
The former looks into planning, mapping, scouting, and machine control. The two latter are relevant to solving more global problems, for example, remote yield state analysis.
Therefore, mixing technologies to exploit the technique to its fullest is recommended. Let’s explore some of the important components of precision farming.
1. GPS in precision farming
GPS refers to ground-based technology that enables gathering data with pinpoint location and information in real-time.
It is suitable for mapping irrigation systems, fields, and roads. In addition, it helps detect areas that require special care.
These kinds of precision farming technologies aid in soil testing, tractor driving with a parallel steering system, and VRA for precise seed and fertilizer application.
Read More: Agriculture Drones – Uses, Benefits & Govt. Subsidies Explained
2. GIS Technology In Precision Farming
Geographic Information Systems or GIS technology uses object details and location data to create digital maps.
Remote sensing is needed to divide the farm into separate zones. In addition, GIS and GPS are required because all zones have their own distinctive characteristics.
Traditionally, these zones are divided according to soil type, nutrition, soil moisture content, pH rate, and pest infestation.
GIS in precision farming helps farmers to view soil survey maps and plant characteristics traditionally grown in the region. At the same time, satellite images and aerial photographs provide add-on information.
Hence, another handy feature of GIS is analyzing multiple farm tasks by comparing and manipulating data layers.
3. UAVs And Dusters In Precision Farming
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are the foundation of aerial crop management technologies. It allows farmers to monitor their fields without scouting.
The most common example is a crop duster already used for watering and sowing. In addition, one can attach a hyperspectral camera to any agricultural aircraft and record the data.
However, it will lead to an additional load on existing crop dusters and further lead to faster wear of the devices and environmental pollution. In addition, this method also requires a qualified pilot.
Here’s when UAVs enter the picture!!
Using UAVs or drones in precision farming is a more innovative solution. They are controlled remotely and cost less fuel.
Moreover, precision farming drones can analyze the field thoroughly and conduct complex multispectral, thermal, and hyperspectral soil analyses.
4. Satellite Remote Sensing In Precision Farming
Satellite Remote Sensing can benefit precision farming in India. This technology allows farmers to observe the yield health using satellite pictures. In addition, they provide up-to-date data on moisture, disease, structural anomalies, and nutrition.
Modern precision agriculture satellite imagery has a high resolution, allowing farmers to get the most accurate data.
Moreover, combining scouting with satellite remote sensing allows farmers to determine the cause of deviations from the norm most effectively. Also, they can use satellite imagery to better plant treatments and select chemicals.
An additional benefit of this method compared to GPS and UAVs is eliminating additional fuel and labour costs.
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Application of Precision Farming in Indian Fields
The agriculture system constantly evolves, and with time, new technologies originate, allowing farmers to optimize production and exploit more resources.
Therefore, precision farming in agriculture can improve soil quality and productivity. Let’s see some of the most important.
VRT in Precision Agriculture
VRT technology helps with the application of fertilizer, chemicals, and seeds per area-specific requirements.
So, precision farming requires a special global positioning system (DGPS) and specialized software.
VRT are of two types:
The map-based VRT accurates the number of applied fertilizers and pesticides according to the previously generated area map.
While the sensor-based VRT examines the soil with sensors in real-time and can help determine nitrogen deficiency.
Due to VRT, farmers can care about plants more effectively and resources as needed to save money and positively impact the environment, the biggest precision farming benefits.
Brownie’s point is there is no fertilizer run-off!
Field Monitoring and Mapping in Precision Farming
When creating a field map, consider the environment’s condition, such as landscape and weather. This is where GPS and satellite remote sensing come in handy.
Crop Monitoring functionality allows farmers to effectively monitor the readiness of crops for harvest with the help of vegetation indices.
So, when the leaves turn yellow and dry out as all the juices sent to the fruits, the crop is mature and ready to harvest.
Micro Irrigation
A micro-irrigation system allows farmers to plan irrigation effectively by identifying areas with high or low soil moisture.
Moreover, Precision farming irrigation allows variable rate irrigation (VRI) to optimise the water supply volume for different field parts. This level of control can greatly improve irrigation efficiency and result in water savings.
Site-Specific Crop Management (SSCM)
It is a farm management concept based on monitoring, counting, and reacting to crop variability between fields or within one location.
Modern SSCM methods use accurate global positioning and site-specific measurements to quantify spatial changing field conditions.
It can identify problematic areas in a field, including pests, weeds, lack of moisture, etc.
Once identifying a site with deviations, the growers can send a scout to make a report based on the information collected during the inspection.
Soil Mapping in Precision Farming
Precision farming impossible without quality ground mapping. Farmers can evaluate soil properties, chemical composition, nutrition, and more with proper mapping.
Additionally, soil mapping practice has existed for a long time, but the latest technologies provide even more precise information, making the new generation of digital maps even more efficient.
IoT in Precision Farming
This system gives farmers more control over the field with dedicated sensors, remote control, and IoT software.
IoT-based precision farming gives farmers more control over critical information from air temperature to soil conditions.
Also, robotic systems increasingly being introduced that can effectively reduce manual work.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and precision farming constantly improve and provide innovative tools for managing farm production.
Image-based pattern recognition systems allow applications to adjust the watering and nutrition of plants as per specific requirements.
For example, sprayers equipped with powered AI can recognize and spray specific weeds without affecting the crops being grown.
Challenges in Applying Precision Farming Concepts
Along with ample benefits, this disruption in agricultural technology has a lot of challenges and gaps, as follows:
- The concept and techniques of precision farming do not lead to a rise in income for Indian farmers. Since agriculture relies on weather conditions a lot, it’s a tall order to access the climate’s patterns.
- This technology makes accessing soil and plant data easy, but no proper management solutions exist
- As this enabled by computer technology, cyber attacks are very common. Attackers can steal and infiltrate information if high-end data protection keys not enabled.
However, the uncanny advantages of this farming concept outweigh the above challenges. Farmers won’t have difficulty adopting this technology if these challenges catered to somehow.
Scope of Precision Farming in India
Precision farming is very useful in India and has numerous opportunities for farmers to identify better high-yielding location-specific crops.
Hence, the government can create a need for precision farming by giving soft loans so that they get encouraged and engaged in agriculture and precision farming activities.
Hi-tech precision farming can help bring the next green revolution to India and produce tremendous rural wealth and sustainability.
Given the rising food demands, there should be an all-out effort to use new technological inputs to make the ‘Green Revolution’ an ‘Evergreen Revolution’.
Conclusion!
How we practice agriculture is changing: precision farming innovations now make it possible to produce more with less.
The latest tractors are always available to deliver the tools that best suit your demands.
Many innovative solutions are already available on our tractor page. Please find out how we can help you improve your work. Get top precision planter at Tractor Junction with complete information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What are the tools for precision farming?
Ans. GIS, GPS, UAVs and satellite remote sensing are the tools useful in precision farming.
Ques. What are the objectives of precision farming in India?
Ans. Precision farming aims to introduce farmers to modern farming technologies like GPS and field mapping. Therefore, precision farming is very useful in increasing crop production and productivity.
Ques. What are the limits of precision farming?
Ans. High capital cost and under-development technology are the few limitations of precision farming.
Ques. What is the use of soil health IoT in precision farming?
Ans. Soil health IoT in precision farming allows farmers to manage soil quality from top layers to roots by providing real-time visibility.
Ques. What is another name for precision agriculture?
Ans. Precision farming also called satellite crop management or site-specific crop management.
For more interesting agriculture questions, you can be with Tractor Junction.
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