Articles
Harmonizing nutrient supply with crop nutrient requirements at commercial-cropping scale using the DSS NUTRISENSE – two case studies at the Agricultural Cooperative Psari in southern Crete
Article number
1437_43
Pages
335 – 342
Language
English
Abstract
NUTRISENSE is a novel decision support system (DSS) used to optimise nutrient management in horticultural crops.
NUTRISENSE includes two versions, one for soil-grown crops (SOIL NutriSense) and one for soilless crops (SOILLESS NutriSense). The DSS is based on innovative algorithms to match the nutrients supply to the crop nutrient requirements.
To test NUTRISENSE on a commercial scale, two case studies with cucumber crops were conducted in commercial greenhouses, one in a soil-grown crop and one in a soilless culture.
In both crops, the nutrient solution (NS) was supplied using automated fertigation systems.
Soil and drainage solution samples were regularly collected from the respective crops, analysed and the data introduced to the DSS to readjust the composition of the fertigation solution.
In the case study with the soil-grown cucumber crop, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use were reduced by 45 and 54%, respectively, compared to the standard fertilisation practices of the PAC members, while the levels of these nutrients in the soil were first reduced from excessive to optimal levels and then maintained at the optimal levels throughout the cropping period.
In the second case study, where the plants were cultivated in a free-drainage soilless culture system using pumice as a substrate, N and P use were reduced by 16 and 5%, respectively, although the drainage solution was not recycled.
The nutrient levels in the root environment were maintained close to the target levels.
These results suggest that the use of novel DSS for fertigation management, combined with a possible shift to closed-loop systems in soilless crops, can effectively contribute to achieving the EU’s Green Deal target of a 50% reduction in nutrient losses from agriculture up to 2030.
NUTRISENSE includes two versions, one for soil-grown crops (SOIL NutriSense) and one for soilless crops (SOILLESS NutriSense). The DSS is based on innovative algorithms to match the nutrients supply to the crop nutrient requirements.
To test NUTRISENSE on a commercial scale, two case studies with cucumber crops were conducted in commercial greenhouses, one in a soil-grown crop and one in a soilless culture.
In both crops, the nutrient solution (NS) was supplied using automated fertigation systems.
Soil and drainage solution samples were regularly collected from the respective crops, analysed and the data introduced to the DSS to readjust the composition of the fertigation solution.
In the case study with the soil-grown cucumber crop, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use were reduced by 45 and 54%, respectively, compared to the standard fertilisation practices of the PAC members, while the levels of these nutrients in the soil were first reduced from excessive to optimal levels and then maintained at the optimal levels throughout the cropping period.
In the second case study, where the plants were cultivated in a free-drainage soilless culture system using pumice as a substrate, N and P use were reduced by 16 and 5%, respectively, although the drainage solution was not recycled.
The nutrient levels in the root environment were maintained close to the target levels.
These results suggest that the use of novel DSS for fertigation management, combined with a possible shift to closed-loop systems in soilless crops, can effectively contribute to achieving the EU’s Green Deal target of a 50% reduction in nutrient losses from agriculture up to 2030.
Publication
Authors
T. Ntanasi, E. Giannothanasis, I. Karavidas, S. Drakatos, P. Kalozoumis, G. Ntatsi, D. Savvas
Keywords
nutrient losses, leaching, nutrition management, nitrogen pollution, phosphorus pollution
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