Space technology inputs for precision farming

Abstract

Applications of agricultural inputs at uniform rates across the field without due regard to in-field variations in soil fertility and crop conditions does not yield desirable results in terms of crop yield. The management of in-field variability in soil fertility and crop conditions for improving the crop production and minimizing the environmental impact is the core issue of precision fanning. Thus. the information on spatial variability in soil fertility status and crop conditions is a pre-requisite for adoption of precision farming. Space technology including global positioning system (GPS) and GIS holds good promise in deriving information on soil attributes and crop yield. and allows monitoring seasonally- variable soil and crop characteristics. namely soil moisture. crop phenology. growth. evapotranspiration. nutrient deficiency. crop disease. and weed and insect infestation. which. in turn. help in optimizing inputs and maximizing crop yield and income. Though widely adopted in developed countries. the adoption of precision fanning in India is yet to take a finn ground primarily due to its unique pattern of land holdings. poor infrastructure. lack of farmers ability to take risk. and socio-economic and demographic conditions. The article introspects the scope of precision fanning under Indian conditions and the possible role that space technology can play in this endeavour.