Exploring the Benefits of Satellite Imagery for Potato Growers
In collaboration with Hushållningssällskapet, the Swedish starch producer Lyckeby has carried out field tests on behalf of Vultus to create an algorithm for the interpretation of satellite imagery that gives potato growers a comprehensive understanding of their fertilization requirements over the growing season.
After three years of field testing, data was gathered to create a special precision fertilization service designed for potato farmers. Comparative studies conducted by Master’s degree students at SLU, utilizing petiole analysis as a reference value, demonstrate that Vultus analyses achieve higher accuracy when compared to industry-accepted methodologies.
“The analyses performed by Vultus have proven to be superior in accuracy, aligning with other studies conducted across the Nordic countries and Europe focusing on potatoes,” Per Karlsson, CEO of Vultus, mentioned.
Three years of field trials have been carried out within the framework of the collaboration with Hushållningssällskapet and Lyckeby to develop algorithms for the analysis of satellite images that provide the farmer with a clear picture of harvest volume and starch content as early as 60 days after sowing.
“With an accuracy of over 92%, this allows the farmer to sell their crop on contract before harvest. It also gives the processors, such as potato starch producers, the opportunity to plan production and sales,” according to a recent press release.
Vultus Potato Leaf Nitrogen Model
The information that Lyckeby Sweden collected over three years was used to construct the Vultus potato leaf nitrogen model. The available data indicates a clear pattern in the observed leaf nitrogen content: as fertilizer was applied before planting, the leaf nitrogen concentration declined over time. Predictions made by the Vultus model well matched the pattern of leaf nitrogen measurements, especially in plots where nitrogen application rates varied from 50 to 150 kg/ha. The N tester and sensor, on the other hand, showed more variations, especially in the second and third testing intervals.
“The Vultus leaf nitrogen model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy compared to the N sensor and N tester readings in this study. Despite the limitations imposed by the spatial resolution of satellite imagery, the findings indicate significant potential for utilizing satellite images to predict leaf nitrogen content at both plot and field scales,” according to the experts.
