Project description
Software solution to produce precise soil maps
A wide range of parameters such as soil texture, water substance and pH is indispensable for the development of precision agriculture. Due to their availability and current analysis techniques, it is possible to determine needs regarding irrigation, seeds and fertilisers. However, the variability of soils represents a particular obstacle to precision agriculture. Additionally, existing techniques of soil characterisation are not reliable, are expensive and require a large number of samples. The EU-funded BIOMAP2SOIL project will validate and refine a cost-effective software solution that is a sampling and analysis method based on long experience and statistical models. The solution will produce precise soil maps and provide recommendations to farmers for integrated crop management that will optimise crop selection, irrigation, and pest and disease control.
Objective
The growth of precision agriculture is hampered by the variability of soils. Parameters such as soil texture, water content, pH or biological properties are fundamental for determining the need and use of irrigation, seeds, fertilizers or pesticides. However, current sampling and analysis techniques to characterize soils are inefficient and expensive, as they require a large number of samples.
BIOMAP2SOIL is a new cost-effective sampling and analysis method, based on our deep farming knowledge and statistical models, which will generate accurate soil maps of relevant parameters, including biological properties. BIOMAP2SOIL provides recommendations for an integrated crop management related to crop selection, irrigation, pest and diseases control, variable seeding and fertilizing, while minimizing the number and cost of sampling and analysis.
FARMERS will improve operations, profitability and sustainability of their crops. BIOMAP2SOIL’s recommendations for optimizing crop management will lead to impacts on yield (up to +10%), water and energy consumption (up to -12%), crop diseases (up to -20%), seeds consumption (up to -5%), fertilizers consumption (up to -10%) and pollution (up to -10%), according to our actual experiences. Economic benefits for farmers are estimated in preliminary studies for 6 crops in the range of €132 – €642 per Ha for an average service cost of €90 per Ha.
BIOMAP2SOIL is currently at TRL6, and to reach a TRL9 we need to validate initial correlations achieved between soil enzymes, apparent electrical conductivity and other relevant parameters; but also refine data analytics, software design and the strategy to scale-up the model, based on deep statistics and big data analytics, as well as a network of Strategic Partners, overtaking our fragmented competition.
BIOMAP2SOIL is a solution mainly addressed to farmers with irrigation crops, organic farming, high technical infrastructure and vulnerable areas of nitrate pollution.
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculture
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronics
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigation
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsstatistics and probability
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
06005 BADAJOZ
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.