Assessment swarm/differentiated sowing maize+sunflower

Assessment swarm

Drones have become indispensable tools in agriculture in recent years and we have been using them successfully for years. The prompt availability of the collected data is a crucial prerequisite for being able to control agricultural processes efficiently.

However, this is where current technologies reach their limits. The high demand for detailed plant information leads to a conflict of objectives between spatial resolution and area performance. Innovative solutions are needed to increase the productivity of drone use and open up new application possibilities. To this end, we have initiated the assessment swarm project.

Launch of a Pathfinder drone from the assessment swarm, this takes over the preliminary exploration

Practical applications

The long-term success of a project depends largely on the results offering real benefits in practice. To this end, practical scenarios and requirements for the use of a drone swarm were determined by carrying out inspections with individual drones.
Furthermore, we are in continuous contact with our farms to ensure that the scoring swarm is optimally adapted to the needs of the farmers.

The following scenarios have been implemented in practice to date:

N uptake NDRE

Yield mapping of winter cereals without rapeseed

Corn yield mapping

Field emergence → emergence rate

Biomass NDVI → Comparison of trial elements

Growth height

Degree of cover

Here are some pictures:

Alternative to yield mapping combine harvester in winter wheat

Yield mapping using a multispectral drone is possible in WW, shown here is the regression analysis between yield from a yield mapping MD and the index NDRE from an aerial survey in a defined time before the harvest.

Determination of emergence rate in maize

Digital estimation frame for maize emergence, automatic counting not possible here due to high weed cover

Bonitur Biomasse (NDVI) in Versuchen

Trial underfoot fertilization maize, significantly different biomass values in the test elements, finally leads to significantly different yields

Grassland assessments using drones are in preparation:

Yield estimation dry matter from grass height/vegetation index
Mapping ragwort and other poisonous plants

Current planning of differentiated maize/sunflower sowing, monitoring results through trials

The differentiated sowing of maize has become much more important in practice in recent years. The local conditions of the individual sections of a field are taken into account: Higher seed rates are used on better soils than on less productive soils. The farmer determines the range of seed rates on the basis of variety recommendations and/or his own experience.

Base map from yield data based on satellite data
here seven classes from 1 – worse soil to 7 – better soil

Since 2021, we have been creating differentiated seed maps for maize and sunflowers, among others. An OFR (on-farm research) trial in sunflowers has already shown significant positive effects on yield. This year we are planning to carry out trials in maize as well.
If you are interested in such trials and if you have a forage harvester with yield mapping and an optional NIRS sensor, please contact us (see contact details below)!

Yield detection/NIRS sensor JD forage harvester, factory photo

Ask us, we look forward to your tasks! We specialise in company-specific solutions, we value you and your challenges =;-).

Our contact details are:

exagt@exagt.de or personally:

moritz.gassan@exagt.de
+49 (0) 170 365 2072, +49 (0) 34324 269739

arnim.grabo@exagt.de
+49 (0) 176 72588814, +49 (0) 34324 269737