project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
OG in Smart Agriculture in citrus irrigation and fertilization. Increasing efficiency in water and fertilization usage in the Valencian Community and
Contexte
Principales problemas: (1) El agua es un elemento escaso en el ecosistema citrícola. Este problema está agravado por el cambio climático. Al mismo tiempo su obtención y uso requiere de un elevado gasto energético, y por tanto económico. (2)
La adecuada utilización de los fertilizantes mejora la calidad del fruto y la producción. Pero una mala utilización, no sólo tiene un impacto en la producción, sino también tiene un efecto contaminante en los acuíferos. Al mismo tiempo, son responsables de una parte muy importante del coste de explotación.
Oportunidad: la utilización de la sensorización terrestre y de los RPAS así como el tratamiento y análisis de los datos captados permite establecer una metodología que indique la situación de una explotación agraria y de una comunidad de regantes en relación a sus necesidades hídricas y de riego de una forma rápida, y relativamente económica. La modernización de los regadíos realizada en las últimas décadas, junto al avance en el conocimiento en regadío y en fertilización, así como en la transferencia de unas técnicas culturales adecuadas, permiten que esto sea posible, teniendo un impacto en la mejora de la uniformidad de las cosechas, en su calidad y en la reducción del uso de agua y fertilizantes.
Objectives
To develop an Smart Agriculture for citrus crops through the adoption of an efficient water and fertilization management, improving the quality and production of the citrus crops, and addressing the real situation of the plant, by the utilization of land sensors and RPAS, and transferring the techniques developed on the research. It includes the adoption of a citrus management platform including the current situation of the plant, harvesting the information by land sensors and RPAS, and the adoption of new techniques and knowledge related to agronomical design, irrigation and fertilization planning and management, and other cultural practices.
Activities
A1.R1. Hidraulic and energy identificacion in the facilities and in the farm plots.
A2.R1. Designing an improvement plan.
A3.R1. Executing the plan
A1.R2. Introduction of data in the software platform.
A2.R2. Training in the usage of the digital platform.
A3.R2. Capturing data from RPAS, UAV, Satellite and analysis.
A1.R3. Instalation of Capacitance probes.
A1.R4. Irrigation planing.
A2.R4. Follow up.
A3.R4. Assessment.
A1.R5. Fertilization planning.
A2.R5. Follow up.
A3.R5. Assessment.
A1.R6 Action plan for the farming plots.
A2.R6 Follow up.
A3.R6 Assessment.
A1.R7 Divulgation.
Additional information
FULL MEMBERSHIP:
MAIN PARTNERS: Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores de Valencia (AVA), Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores-ASAJA Málaga, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Centro de Edafología y Biología aplicada del Segura-Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ignacio Puech Suanzes, Distribuciones de Maquinaria Agrícola y Agroquímicos SL- DIMAGRO, HEMAV TECHNOLOGY SL
OTHER PARTNERS: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDNP001 España - Programa Nacional de Desarrollo Rural
Emplacement
- Main geographical location
- Valencia / València
- Other geographical location
- Málaga, Castellón / Castelló
EUR 417786.75
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
6 Practice Abstracts
The strategic importance of citriculture in the mediterranean basin. The citriculture play a strategic role in the economy and agricultural sustainability of the Mediterranean Basin. This region, characterized by its temperate and sunny climate, along with fertile soils, has witnessed the development of a vital citrus industry that serves both local and international markets.
The importance of citriculture in the area is very significant. Firstly, citrus production generate employment and livelihoods for thousands of people in the region, from farmers and field workers to employees of processing and distribution industries. Additionally, citrus exports constitute a substantial portion of the international trade of many Mediterranean countries, thus contributing significantly to their GDP.
From a sustainability perspective, citriculture plays a significant role in preserving biodiversity and efficiently using agricultural resources. Sustainable agricultural practices in citriculture help to reduce environmental impact and promote the resilience of agricultural ecosystems in the region.
Beyond its economic and environmental importance, Mediterranean citriculture also holds significant cultural and social value. The citrus fruits are essential to the Mediterranean diet and deeply rooted in the culinary and cultural traditions of the region, contributing to its identity and heritage.
In conclusion, citriculture is a strategic sector for the Mediterranean Basin, with significant economic, environmental, cultural, and social impacts. It is crucial for ensuring economic resilience and long-term sustainability in the region.
Irrigation optimization in citrus crops: integration of innovative technologies and sustainable practices. Optimizing irrigation in citrus crops is fundamental to ensure efficient water use.
The use of vegetative covers is an effective strategy to reduce soil evaporation, improve water retention, and reduce weed competition. Additionally, the vegetative covers can promote biodiversity and improve soil health, contributing to a balanced and sustainable agricultural system.
The capacitance probes are another tool for irrigation optimization. These probes provide accurate measurements of soil water content, allowing farmers to adjust irrigation specifically to avoid both excess and water shortage. This real-time monitorization enables precise and efficient water management, resulting in significant water and energy savings.
The use of drones and satellites complements these practices by providing detailed aerial views of the fields. These technologies enable early detection of water stress patterns, assessment of crop health, and identification of areas requiring special attention. This allows farmers to make informed decisions and take corrective actions in a timely manner to ensure efficient water use and optimize production.
In summary, irrigation optimization requires a comprehensive approach that combines innovative technologies with sustainable practices. The integration of vegetative covers, capacitance probes, drones, satellites, and other tools offers a pathway to more efficient water management, increasing productivity, and more sustainable agriculture in the citrus sector.
Comprehensive optimization of citrus crops through drone and satellite technology. The integration of drones and satellites in citrus farms is bringing numerous benefits to crop management.
The equipped drones with sensors conduct flights over citrus fields, capturing high-resolution images and multispectral data that reveal crucial information about crop health and nutrient distribution in the soil. This information is complemented by satellite data, which offer a global view and allow continuous monitoring.
The combination of data collected by drones and satellites allows farmers to make informed and precise decisions in real time. In addition to optimizing irrigation, to avoid both, over and under-watering, this technology offers precise fertilizer adjustment, ensuring that crops receive the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
Furthermore, early detection of pests and diseases is possible thanks to the ability of drones and satellites to identify anomalous patterns. This helps farmers to intervene quickly to control and prevent the spread of pests, also, reducing the risk of crop damage and yield losses.
In summary, drone and satellite technology offer a comprehensive solution for citrus crop management, going beyond simple irrigation. The benefit of providing detailed and real-time information about multiple aspects of the crop allows farmers to optimize production, as well as, reducing costs, and promoting long-term sustainability in the citrus sector.
The use of capacitance probes for water efficiency. The capacitance probes are playing a fundamental role in irrigation management in citrus cultivation. This tool provides precise, real-time monitoring of soil water content, enabling efficient and sustainable water management. By relying on the measurement of the soil's electrical capacity, the capacitance probes offer a detailed insight into moisture distribution in the field, empowering farmers to make decisions about the quantity and frequency of irrigation needed to optimize production.
The utilization of these probes has multiple advantages. Firstly, by providing accurate data on soil moisture, the farmers avoid both, over and under-irrigation, leading to more efficient water usage and saving of water and energy resources. Furthermore, by enabling real-time adjustments in irrigation systems, the capacitance probes contribute to minimizing water waste and reducing the environmental impact associated to the irrigation.
In summary, the capacitance probes represent an indispensable tool for modern and sustainable agriculture. Due to the ability to improve water efficiency, reduce water waste, and enhance crop yield positions. The capacitance probes are a key technology on the path towards more profitable and environmentally friendly agricultural production.
Benefits of vegetative covers in citrus cultivation. The integration of vegetative covers in citrus cultivation emerges as a key strategy to improve agricultural sustainability and performance. These covers, mainly composed by grasses and legumes, offer diverse advantages. Firstly, the reducuction of soil erosion and nutrients lost, enhancing its quality and fertility. Moreover, they act as a refuge for biodiversity, promoting the presence of beneficial insects and microorganisms that contribute to a balanced agricultural ecosystem. Vegetative covers also play a crucial role in water conservation by reducing soil evaporation and increasing its retention capacity, resulting in more efficient irrigation and reduced water consumption. Additionally, they provide natural protecton against weeds, thus reducing the need for chemical herbicides. Despite some drawbacks, such as competition for nutrients and water with main crops, the environmental and agronomic benefits of vegetative covers in citrus cultivation outweigh their potential drawbacks, consolidating them as a valuable and sustainable agricultural practice.
Use of rice straw from "La Albufera" natural park as mulching in citrus trees. Rice straw is an agricultural residue that is generated in large quantities in the Albufera of Valencia, an area of great ecological value where rice is cultivated. Its traditional management, by burning or burying, can cause environmental and public health problems, due to its proximity to the city of Valencia. A sustainable alternative is to use rice straw as mulch in citrus cultivation, which is another of the main crops in the region. Mulching with rice straw has multiple benefits, both for the soil and for the crop. Among the benefits for the soil, are the reduction of water evaporation, weed control, the improvement of the structure and fertility of the soil, the prevention of erosion and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, when this straw is incorporated into the soil after its decomposition, the thermal conditions of the plant’s root system improve, the leaching of fertilizing elements is reduced, achieving a more fertile soil and, therefore, increasing the production and quality of the fruits, as well as the decrease of pests and diseases. Additionally, the use of rice straw as mulch implies an economic saving for farmers, by reducing the costs of irrigation, herbicides and fertilizers. This proposal aims to contribute to the sustainable management of agricultural resources and to the mitigation of climate change by reducing the use of water resources, as well as phytosanitary products and fertilizers, in addition to taking advantage of an agricultural residue of difficult management from an area of high ecological value.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores de Valencia (A.V.A.)
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores-ASAJA Málaga
Project partner
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Centro de Edafología y Biología aplicada del Segura-Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Project partner
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Distribuciones de Maquinaria Agrícola y Agroquímicos SL- DIMAGRO
Project partner
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HEMAV TECHNOLOGY SL
Project partner
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Ignacio Puech Suanzes
Project partner
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Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias
Project partner