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New technology is allowing farmers to use less fertilizer, and that’s a good thing for the environment. Here’s how it’s being done.
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Introduction
New technology is allowing farmers to use less fertilizer while still maintaining crop yields. This is important because it can reduce the amount of pollution that comes from agriculture, which is a major source of water and air pollution.
Two main approaches are being used to achieve this goal. The first is to develop new types of fertilizer that are more efficient, so that the same amount of crop can be grown with less fertilizer. The second is to develop new ways to apply fertilizer, so that it can be targeted more precisely to the plants that need it.
Both of these approaches are still in development, but they show promise for reducing the environmental impact of agriculture in the future.
The Need for Less Fertilizer
Fertilizer is an essential part of modern farming, providing the nutrients that crops need to grow. However, fertilizer can also be a source of pollution, runoff from fields can contaminate groundwater and surface water bodies. In addition, the production of fertilizer requires large amounts of energy and produces greenhouse gas emissions.
New technology is helping farmers to use less fertilizer while still achieving high crop yields. For example, precision agriculture uses sensors and mapping tools to help farmers apply fertilizer only where it is needed, instead of blanket-spraying fields. This can help reduce pollution and save money on fertilizer costs.
In addition, new crop varieties are being developed that require less fertilizer to reach their full potential. For example, “nitrogen-use efficient” (NUE) wheat varieties have been shown to need up to 30% less nitrogen fertilizer than traditional varieties (1). This not only reduces pollution risks, but also cuts down on production costs for farmers.
As our population continues to grow, it is essential that we find ways to produce food more efficiently and with less environmental impact. New technology is playing a key role in helping us to meet this challenge.
(1) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49167-0
New Technology to Help Farmers
Much of the developed world has access to an abundance of food, thanks to advances in agriculture. One key factor in this agricultural productivity is the use of fertilizer, which helps crops grow larger and healthier. However, fertilizer can also be expensive and time-consuming for farmers to apply. As a result, researchers are always looking for ways to help farmers use less fertilizer while still maintaining crop yields.
Recent advances in technology are beginning to offer some solutions to this problem. One example is the use of precision agriculture, which involves using sensors and GPS data to more accurately target where fertilizer is applied on a field. This helps farmers avoid wasting fertilizer on areas where it isn’t needed, and it can also help them apply the right amount of fertilizer for each individual plant.
Another example of new technology helping farmers use less fertilizer is the use of drones. Drones can be used to quickly and cheaply map out fields, which can help farmers locate areas where fertility is low and plants are not growing as well. This information can then be used to target these areas with more precise applications of fertilizer.
Overall, new technology is beginning to offer some promising solutions for helping farmers use less fertilizer. While there is still more work to be done in this area, these advances are a step in the right direction for making agriculture more sustainable and efficient.
How the Technology Works
Farmers have long known that they can use less fertilizer if they apply it more precisely to their crops. But doing so has been difficult and expensive. Now, new technology is making it easier and more affordable for farmers to use less fertilizer while still getting the same yields.
Farmers are using two main types of technology to apply fertilizer more precisely: drones and precision farming software.
Drones are unmanned aircraft that can be equipped with sensors that measure things like the height of the crop, the health of the plant, and the amount of moisture in the soil. This information can then be used to apply fertilizer only where it’s needed.
Precision farming software is another tool that farmers are using to apply fertilizer more precisely. This software uses information from things like weather data and satellite imagery to create a map of the field. This map can then be used to plan where and how much fertilizer to apply.
The Benefits of Using Less Fertilizer
Farmers are always looking for ways to increase yields and reduce costs. New technology is one way that farmers are able to do both of these things. One example of new technology that is helping farmers to use less fertilizer is precision agriculture.
Precision agriculture is a farming management system that uses information technologies to observe, measure, and manage field variables in order to optimize agricultural production. Precision agriculture includes using GPS technology to map fields, using sensors to measure soil moisture levels, and using aerial images to assess crop health. This information can be used to make decisions about when and how much fertilizer to apply.
Precision agriculture is just one example of how new technology is helping farmers to use less fertilizer. Other examples include:
-Developing new varieties of crops that require less fertilizer
-Improving fertilizer application methods so that less fertilizer is lost to runoff or leaching
-Using cover crops or other means of soil improvement to reduce the need for fertilizer
The Drawbacks of Using Less Fertilizer
While using less fertilizer may be better for the environment, it can also have drawbacks for farmers. One of the biggest drawbacks is that crops may not grow as well without the added nutrients that fertilizer provides. This can lead to lower yields and less income for farmers. In addition, using less fertilizer can also lead to lower crop quality, which may make it harder to sell crops.
The Future of Farming with Less Fertilizer
New technology is allowing farmers to use less fertilizer while still maintaining high yields. This is important because it can help reduce environmental pollution and save farmers money.
There are a few different ways that farmers are using less fertilizer. One is by using GPS-guided equipment that doesn’t go over the same territory twice. This ensures that the fertilizer is only being applied where it’s needed, and not wasted on areas where it’s not going to do any good.
Another way that farmers are using less fertilizer is by planting cover crops. Cover crops are plants that are grown between cash crops (like corn or soybeans). They help hold nutrients in the soil and prevent them from being lost through leaching. This means that when the cover crops are plowed under, they release those nutrients back into the soil, making them available for the next crop.
Farmers are also using precision agriculture techniques to target fertilizer application. This involves using sensors to collect data about things like soil type andcrop growth. Farmers can then use this information to apply fertilizer only where it’s needed, in the right amounts.
All of these methods are helping farmers use less fertilizer while still getting high yields. This is important for protecting the environment and reducing costs for farmers.
FAQs
New technology is allowing farmers to use less fertilizer on their crops. This is done by using sensors to measure the amount of nitrogen in the soil and then applying the appropriate amount of fertilizer. This helps to reduce waste and keeps crops healthy.
About the Author
Patricia Waldron is a journalist and editor who has written about business, technology, and agriculture for more than 15 years.
Conclusion
While it is clear that new technology is allowing farmers to use less fertilizer, it is not clear how long this trend will continue. In the meantime, farmers are able to produce more food with fewer inputs, which is good for both the environment and the economy.
