Multi-Source Data Integration for Sustainable Management Zone Delineation in Precision Agriculture

Dušan Jovanović (), Miro Govedarica, Milan Gavrilović, Ranko Čabilovski and Tamme van der Wal
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Dušan Jovanović: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Miro Govedarica: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Milan Gavrilović: Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Ranko Čabilovski: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Tamme van der Wal: AeroVision, Stadsring 47, 3811 HN Amersfoort, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-30

Abstract: Accurate delineation of within-field management zones (MZs) is essential for implementing precision agriculture, particularly in spatially heterogeneous environments. This study evaluates the spatiotemporal consistency and practical value of MZs derived from three complementary data sources: electromagnetic conductivity (EM38-MK2), basic soil chemical properties (pH, humus, P 2 O 5 , K 2 O, nitrogen), and vegetation/surface indices (NDVI, SAVI, LCI, BSI) derived from Sentinel-2 imagery. Using kriging, fuzzy k-means clustering, percentile-based classification, and Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA), MZs were generated for a five-year period (2018–2022), with 2–8 zone classes. Stability and agreement were assessed using the Cohen Kappa, Jaccard, and Dice coefficients on systematic grid samples. Results showed that EM38-MK2 and humus-weighted BSP data produced the most consistent zones (Kappa > 0.90). Sentinel-2 indices demonstrated strong alignment with subsurface data (r > 0.85), offering a low-cost alternative in data-scarce settings. Optimal zoning was achieved with 3–4 classes, balancing spatial coherence and interpretability. These findings underscore the importance of multi-source data integration for robust and scalable MZ delineation and offer actionable guidelines for both data-rich and resource-limited farming systems. This approach promotes sustainable agriculture by improving input efficiency and allowing for targeted, site-specific field management.

Keywords: precision agriculture; sustainable agriculture; management zones; EM38-MK2; basic soil properties; Sentinel-2 indices; fuzzy clustering; weighted overlay; data integration; spatiotemporal stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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