PRECISION FARMING It is an approach where inputs are utilized in precise amounts to get increased average yields, compared to traditional cultivation techniques. It is also known as precision Agriculture, A science of improving crop yield and assisting management decisions using high technology sensor and analysis tools. It is an approach to farm management that uses information technology (IT).

4. INTRODUCTION
• Agriculture is the backbone of our country.
• Precision farming provides a new solution using a
systems approach for today’s agricultural issues
such as the need to balance productivity with
environmental concerns.
• It is based on advanced information technology.
• It aims to increase economic returns, reduce the
energy input and the environmental impacts of
agricultures.
(Ashish Mishra et al., 2003)

5. DEFINITION
• Precision farming is generally defined as
information and technology based farm
management system to identify analysis
and manage variability within fields for
optimum profitability, sustainability and
protection of the land resource.
(Subrata kr.Mandal and Atanu maity.2013)

6. Objectives of Precision Agriculture
1. To Identify the causes of within field variation in
crop performance.
2. To increase production efficiency
3. To improve product quality
4. To use chemicals more efficiently
5. To protect soil and ground water
6. To determine the potential economic and
environmental benefits.

7. Why precision farming?
• Prevents soil degradation in cultivable
land.
• Reduction of chemical use in crop
production.
• Efficient use of water resource.
• Dissemination of modern farm practices to
improve quality, quantity & reduced cost of
production in agricultural crops.

8. TOOLS FOR PRECISION FARMING
• REMOTE SENSING
• GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYATEM
• GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
• VARIABLE RATE APPLICATION
• LASER LAND LEVELLING
• GRID BASED SOIL SAMPLING
• LEAF COLOUR CHART
• CHLOROPHYLL METER
• SITE SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
(Anamika nath and prerna baraily, 2003)

9. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Computer software that stores, analyzes and
displays spatial data and its corresponding
attributes
• Attributes include: soil type, pH, salinity levels,
nutrient levels, and crop history
• GIS can overlay multiple data maps
• GIS can store, calculate, model current and
historical data
• Maps are the main visual output but can include
reports, tables and charts

10. GIS Example
Data layer of yield
Data layer of topography
from a Digital Elevation
Model (DEM)
Data layer of soil
conductivity
Output: A visual display of areas of low yield and high EC,
indicating possible salinity problems OR fertility differences
GIS can be used to predict fertilizer needs across a field

11. Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
An instrument that receives satellite signals to
calculate your position (latitude, longitude and
elevation).
(Anamika nath and prerna baraily, 2003)

12. Remote Sensing (RS)
Collects data from reflected electromagnetic energy and
converts it into images using satellites or airplanes.
Any data that is suspect or highly irregular, needs to be confirmed by
field investigation.
(philip R. mcloud and Gronwald,2011)

13. www.ppi-ppic.org

14. Yield Monitoring and Mapping
• Sensors mounted on the combine measuring yield as the crop is
harvested.
• Coupled with a GPS logging location, data can be mapped.
• Identifies in-field variations in yield.
• Allows fine tuning of next year’s seeding and fertilizer applications.
• Overall yield monitor accuracy is improving with use and research,
while in-field accuracy is improved with calibration.
Yield monitors are
attached to conveyors
or combines to
measure grain yield
and moisture content.
(Anamika nath and prerna baraily, 2003)

15. Comparison between Conventional and Precision agriculture
Operation Tools implements and equipments
Conventional Precisional
Land Development
and Levelling
Bullock or tractor operated
scrappers and levelers
Lasers guided precession land
leveler.
Irrigation Centrifugal and submersible
pump, lift irrigation etc.
Sprinkler and drip irrigation
systems
Plant Protection Manual operated or engine
operated sprayer, duster
Power tiller sprayer electro
static and air assisted
spraying
Harvesting and
threshing
Sickles and reaper Grain combines sugarcane
harvester, high capacity
multicrop threshers, potato
and ground nut digger etc.
(Pedro Andrade- Sanchez and John T.hean, 2010)

16. SITE-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
• site-specific nutrient management is a
component of precision agriculture and can be
used for any field or crop.
• It combines plant nutrient requirements at each
growth stage and the soils ability to supply
nutrients,and applies that information to areas
within a field that require different management
from the field average.
• Site specific management allows for fine-tuning
crop management systems along with 4R
nutrient stewardship-the right source,rate,time
and place of place of nutrient use. (Khosla.R ,2010)

17. (Khosla.R, 2010)
Govern by 4 R’s
SITE-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

18. Examples of site specific N
Management approaches.
CROP,LOCATIO
N
N treatment N applied kg
ha-1
Yield t ha-1 NUE kg
Maize,USA Conventional 152 12.8 84
Site-specific 1 163 12.4 76
Site-specific 2 109 12.9 118
Wheat, UK Conventional 174 7.4 43
Site-specific 155 7.2 46
Rice, India Conventional 142 5.0 35
Site-specific 1 110 5.0 45
Site-specific 2 108 4.9 45
(Achim Dobermann et.al., 2014)

19. Grid Soil Sampling
• Field is divided into equal areas (grid cell).
• 10 cores (min.) composited within each grid cell,
either a random or systematic pattern.
• Collected composite sample represented each area
appropriately.
• Fertility Map produce, provide accurate information
about soil reaction, nutrient status.
Advantage:
• Provides a good assessment of variability.
Disadvantage:
• Expensive. (Banu J, 2015)

20. It was the very first approach used to
develop precision application maps.
The fields are to be sampled along a
regular grid at sample spacing ranging from
60-150m depending on the field size and the
samples are analyzed for desired properties.
Grid Sampling:
(Banu J, 2015)

21. VARIABLE-RATE APPLICATION
• Seeding VRA
• Weed Control VRA
• Fertilizer VRA
(Lambert and lowenberg 2000)

22. Variable Rate Technology
Precision agriculture technologies such as variable-rate
fertilizer applicators can increase cotton profitability by
improving nutrient use efficiency.
(Lambert and lowenberg 2000)

23. Seeding VRA
• Planters and drills can be made into VRA
seeders by adjusting the speed of the
seed-metering drive. This will effectively
change the plant population.

24. Weed Control VRA
• For map-based weed control VRA
systems, some form of “task computer” is
required to provide a signal indicating the
target rate for the current location.
Second, a system for physically changing
the application rate to match the current
prescribed rate is required.

25. Fertilizer VRA
• Fertilizer applications can cover a
wide area of application devices.
Many of the VRA technologies for
fertilizer applications are similar to
weed control (liquid applications) .

26. TECHNOLOGY CROP REPORTED
ECONOMIC
BENEFIT(%) FROM
PRECISION FARMING
TECHNOLOGY.
VRA-N CORN 72
WHEAT 20
VRA-P CORN 60
VRA-K CORN 60
VRA-SEEDING CORN 83
PROFITABILITY SUMMARY OF PRECISION FARMING TECHNOLOGIES AND
CROPS WHERE TECHNOLOGIES WERE IMPLEMENTED.
(Lambert and Lowenberg, 2000)

27. LASER LAND LEVELAR
• Laser land levelar is leveling the field within certain degree of
desired slope using a guided laser beam throughout the field.
Unevenness of the soil surface has a significant impact on the
germination, stand and yield of crops.
• Advantages
 Increases nutrient use efficiency.
 Improves application and distribution efficiency of
irrigation water.
 Increases crop productivity.
 Helps in weed management

28. Functioning of laser land leveler

29. Treatment Agronomic
Efficiency of N
(Kg ha-1)
Agronomic
Efficiency of P
(Kg ha-1)
Agronomic
Efficiency of K
(Kg ha-1)
2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004
Laser Leveling + NPK
(120:26:40) Kg ha-1
18.75 20.00 86.54 92.31 56.25 60.00
Traditional Leveling + NPK
(120:26:40) Kg ha-1
7.67 9.17 35.38 42.31 23.00 27.50
(Pal et al.,2004)
Agronomic Efficiency (Kg ha-1) of N,P and K under
different Land Leveling System in Rice at
Modipuram (UP)

30. (Jat et al. ,2006)
Grain yield of rice and wheat under precision and
traditional land leveling in western Uttar Pradesh
Statistical
parameters
Grain yield(t/ha)
rice wheat
Leaser leveling Traditional
leveling
Leaser leveling Traditional
leveling
Number of
farmer
71.00 71.00 71.00 71.00
minimum 3.90 3.50 4.60 4.20
maximum 5.70 5.44 6.21 6.12
mean 4.84 4.51 5.53 5.21
kurtosis -0.63 -0.62 -1.09 -0.931
skewness -0.29 -0.07 -0.24 -0.093
SD 0.46 0.462 0.435 0.460
SE 0.055 0.055 0.052 0.054
CV(%) 9.58 10.24 7.86 8.82

31. LEAF COLOR CHART
• The Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) is used to
determine the N fertilizer needs of rice
crops. LCC has four green strips, with
colour ranging from yellow green to dark
green. It determines the greenness of the
rice leaf, which indicates its N content
(Shantappa Duttarganvi et al., 2014)

32. TOOLS MONITORED EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR
SCHEDULING FIELD SPECIFIC APPLICATION OF
FERTILIZER
For Nitrogen during the
growing season, based
on plant leaf N- status
which is monitored by
leaf colour Chart (LCC)
(Shantappa Duttarganvi et al., 2014)

33. EFECT OF LCC BASED NITROGEN
MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF
LOW LAND RICE
NITROGEN
APPLICATION
PLANT
HEIGHT
(CM)
TILLERS
HILL-1
LEAF
AREA
(CM
HILL-1)
LEAF
AREA
INDEX
NITROGEN
APPLICATION
(Kg ha-1)
PANICLE
LENGTH
(CM)
NUMBER
OF
GRAINS
PER
PANICLE
LCC Threshold 3.5 36.1 13.1 720.1 3.60 90 12.63 108
LCC Threshold 4.0 38.8 14.3 779.3 3.80 100 12.93 110
LCC Threshold 4.5 39.7 16.4 870.0 4.35 110 13.27 113
LCC Threshold 5.0 40.3 17.0 1286.7 6.43 120 14.83 123
LCC Threshold 5.5 42.4 17.2 1296.8 6.48 130 15.80 124
FARMERS METHOD 42.0 16.1 1270.6 6.37 220 15.03 123
RECOMMENDED
NITROGEN
40.4 14.6 1216.0 6.08 150 13.80 122
(Shantappa Duttarganvi et al., 2014)

34. CHLOROPHYLL METER
• The SPAD is a portable, non destructive
measuring device for the chlorophyll
content of leaves widely used to optimize
the timing and quantity of fertilizer to
improve crop yields.
(Shantappa Duttarganvi et al., 2014)

35. Chlorophyll meter SPAD
(Shantappa Duttarganvi et al., 2014)

36. Need for Precision Farming in India
• Increased Land degradation.
(In India, out of 329 million ha of total
geographical area182 million ha of area is affected
by land degradation due to water erosion, wind
erosion, water logging and chemical deterioration.)
• Depletion of Water resources.
• Socio economic need for enhanced productivity / unit of
land, water and time.
• Environment Pollution because of increased and
indiscriminate use of fertilizers and chemicals.
• Precision Farming is essential in order to address
poverty alleviation, enhance quality of life and food
security.
(Banu J, 2015)

37. PROBLEMS IN ADOPTION OF
PRECISION FARMING TECHNOLOGY:
• Fragmented land holding
• Lack of continuously monitoring the health and availability of
the nature resources.
• Climatic aberrations.
• Operational constraints.
• Uncertainty in getting the various inputs.
• Absence of a long standing and uniform agricultural policy.
• Lack of success stories.
• Lack of local technical expertise.
• Land ownership, Infrastructure and Institutional constraints.

38. Probable Strategies
• Farmer’s co-operatives.
• Pilot projects.
• Agricultural input suppliers, Extension advisors
and consultant play important role in the spread of
the technology.
• Combined effort of Researchers and Government.
• Public agencies should consider supplying free
data such as remotely sensed imagery to the
universities and research institutes involved in
Precision farming research.

39. Conclusion
• Application of GPS,GIS,Remote sensing and VRA
in finding out crop performance in relation to
productivity linked soil parameters and weather
forcasting especially monsoon.
• PA can immensely help in reducing cost of
production and increase profit and marginal returns.
• It can enable optimal use of inputs through site
specific application and precise land levelling by
laser land leveler.
• SPAD meter and LCC are reliable and destructive
tools to determine the right time for N top dressing
of crops.

40. He Sits over Here for Precision Farming
Thanks for your attention