Crop-sensing technology has taken an exciting leap with the completion of field trials for nitrogen content readings using a portable device.
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The FieldSpec is a hand-held device that uses near-infrared technology to record spectral reflectance for a range of wavelengths, which then instantaneously provides a molecular fingerprint of the plant canopy.
Using a data interface, the fingerprint can then be used to accurately determine N content, using a calibration model developed by Landmark Pfitzner & Kleinig agronomist Michael Zerner in a SAGIT funded research project.
“While other tools give a reading of N which roughly correlates to N content, the FieldSpec output that I was creating was an accurate N measurement,” Mr Zerner said.
Field trials completed by Mr Zerner at Loxton, Mintaro and Roseworthy aimed to determine the accuracy of on-site readings in wheat and barley crops, as opposed to previously conducted lab-trials which required testing of ground tissue samples.
“The field trial result wasn’t as accurate as a lab test but the compromise was surpassed by the benefit given by the instantaneous reading,” Mr Zerner said.
While the field trials were effectively a pilot study, Mr Zerner said the new technology had exciting prospects.
“The next step is to create a user-friendly interface so the fingerprint readings can be interpreted by farmers and agronomists, without the need to use any specialised equipment,” he said.
