Precision agriculture in sugar cane: how effective ?

Code (CO)	MSI04P4104
Author (AU)	Autrey, L. J. C. Jhoty, I.
Title - English (ET)	Precision agriculture in sugar cane: how effective ?
Thesis-Parent title (TH)	Li, Y. R. and Solomon, S. (eds), Sustainable Sugarcane and sugar production technology: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Sustainable sugarcane and sugar production technology, Nanning, Guangxi, China, November 29 to December 2, 2004. Beijing: China Agricultural Press. 769 p.
Document Type(DT)	book chapter
Date of publication (DP)	2004
Source (SO)	p. 122-128
Language of text (LT)	En
Language of summaries (LS)	En
Abstract (AB)	The effectiveness of precision agriculture (PA) in sugar cane cultivation is reviewed in the light of experimental research carried out and results obtained in some sugar producing countries. PA in sugar cane is still in a developmental stage. One reliable prototype yield sensor system has been developed while other ones are being evaluated. The relatively few results that are available indicate that in field yield variability is significant and varies between 30-250 tonnes per hectare. Yield zones, occurring in definite patterns, are partly consistent and variable from year to year. Soil variability mapping is being pursued with directed soil sampling and with the soil electromagnetic conductivity meter EM38. Relationships between yield and soil EM conductivity and other soil properties have been established. The causes of yield variability aare however not fully understood. Variable rate applications (VRA) of fertilizers and lime have been successfully attempted and proved profitable. The opportunity of controlling crop production on the basis of management zones has been identified. High-resolution satellite imageries are useful for distinguishing spatial variability and for selecting sugar cane fields for carrying out soil EM conductivity surveys. While no clear economic benefits have been proven, the application of PA appears promising for sustainable and environment-friendly sugar cane production. New proximal-sensing tools such as near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and on-the-go soil sensors are being developed to enhance the measurement of spatial variability.
Descriptors - English (DE)	Sugarcane precision agriculture yield mapping soil sampling management zones remote sensing NIR near infrared spectroscopy
Descriptors - Geographic (DG)	Mauritius
Sort Key 1(K1)	Sugarcane
Sort Key 2 (K2)	Land use and management: Precision agriculture
Date record entered (DA)	2004-12-17
Language of analysis (LA)	En
Location (LO)	LRD
Processing status (PS)	CAT
MSIRI Staff (MS)	CHEM