4 years practice test show: YARA N-Sensor avoids lodging | 21.09.2010

"The result of our trial was clear", said Thomas Volk, manager of proPlant. "There has been no lodging in any of the large parcel trials since 2007/08. We even obtained increased yields and saved costs through the variable application of growth regulator with the N-Sensor.”

The yield maps of the combine harvester show: too much application of growth regulator means lower yields of up to 10 dt/ha in years without lodging. If, on the other hand, lodging cannot be avoided, one is threatened with – apart from higher harvesting costs – losses in yield and quality.

A software module has been available since 2007 for the YARA N-Sensor for the sub-area specific growth regulator recommendation in cereals. Thin, weak stands with a low risk of lodging are treated with lower amounts; vice versa compact, lush stands with a high risk of lodging obtain more growth regulator. The YARA N-Sensor differentiates by recording the different biomass on a field and calculating this into a spraying recommendation.

No lodging in any trials

In market associated large scale trials on farms the use of this module (since it was put on the market) was compared with normal farm variations. Not only the constant and sensor supported application, but also the harvest along with yield mapping were carried out on each farm. There was no lodging in any of the 29 trials.

33 €/ha profit thanks to YARA N-Sensor

The financial advantaged achieved through this is mainly dependent on the cereal variety, the cereal price as well as the production costs for the growth regulator (see diagram). In 2008 it was 26 €/ha on average. In 2009 it lay – in particular due to the low cereal prices – at about 13 €/ha, but was still positive for all cereal types in all 13 trials in 2009. In the last season the financial profit rose to an average of 33 €/ha.

www.proplant.de