Variable Rate Seeding in Precision Agriculture: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Egidijus Šarauskis, Marius Kazlauskas, Vilma Naujokienė, Indrė Bručienė, Dainius Steponavičius, Kęstutis Romaneckas and Algirdas Jasinskas
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Egidijus Šarauskis: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania
Marius Kazlauskas: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania
Vilma Naujokienė: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania
Indrė Bručienė: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania
Dainius Steponavičius: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania
Kęstutis Romaneckas: Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Science, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 11, Kaunas Distr., LT-53361 Akademija, Lithuania
Algirdas Jasinskas: Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentu Str. 15A, Kaunas Distr., LT-53362 Akademija, Lithuania

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-24

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to analyze variable rate seeding (VRS) methods and critically evaluate their suitability and effectiveness for the challenges under field conditions. A search was performed using scientific databases and portals by identifying for analysis and evaluation 92 VRS methodologies, their impact and economic benefits depending on the main parameters of the soil and environment. The results of the review identified that VRS could adapt the appropriate seeding rate for each field zone, which was based on site-specific data layers of soil texture, ECa, pH and yield maps. Then, remotely detected images or other data which identify yield-limiting factors were identified. The site-specific sowing method (with a variable sowing rate for each field area) allows the optimization of crop density to obtain the best agronomic and economic results. Various proximal and remote sensor systems, contact and contactless equipment, mapping and VRS modeling technologies are currently used to determine soil and crop variability. VRS depends on the field characteristics’ sowing equipment capabilities, the planned harvest, soil productivity and machine technology interactions with the environment. When forecasting the effective payback of a VRS over the desired period, the farm size should on average be at least 150 ha. In future studies, to achieve the best solutions and optimal methods, it is important to test, evaluate and put into practice the latest methodologies on farms, to perform complex assessments of changes in sensor, soil, plant and environmental parameters.

Keywords: precision farming; site-specific seeding; prescription maps; apparent electrical conductivity; proximal sensing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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