Optimization of fertilization recommendation in Greek rice fields using precision agriculture

The objective of this research was to evaluate the correlation between rice yield and soil properties for improving fertilizer recommendations. This was achieved through the application of a new precision agriculture methodology on a large experimental setup of about 115 ha in Chalastra, Greece. The methodology uses multispectral satellite images acquired during the previous cropping season for the delineation of preliminary zones, inside of which representative soil samples are extracted and analyzed and fertilizer recommendations are formulated per zone. The spatial distribution of yield performances was recorded with a yield mapper mounted on the harvester. As a result of the zone-based applications in the 2017 cropping season, the grower realized 15% increase in yield compared to the mean of the previous decade’s yields, while the fertilizer inputs were reduced by 20%. Moreover, it was showed that the nitrogen added with the basal fertilization and soil magnesium were the major contributors of yield differences, whereas phosphorus and potassium needs were covered with the applied fertilization.