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Rainfed Farming Systems pp 875–900Cite as

Using Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture to Improve a Farming System

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Abstract

Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture can improve farm efficiencies and the environment in rainfed farming systems. Along with benefits that include reduced soil compaction through controlled traffic systems, Conservation Agriculture (CA) involves carbon farming (undertaking specific farming practices in order to sequester carbon and maybe obtain tradable rights in that carbon). Precision Agriculture (PA) matches the agronomy of broadacre cropping, including fertiliser application, with field variability, by using GPS technology and on-the-go sensors. Application algorithms are being developed and economics need to be defined for rainfed systems. This chapter describes how CA and PA can improve farm efficiencies and preserve the environment.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Australian examples include PIRSA’s N Calculator, and CSIRO N Fertiliser Calculator.

  2. 2.

    Including SOYL which is the biggest precision agriculture company in the UK.

  3. 3.

    Located by GPS reference points.

  4. 4.

    There are two techniques used to measure soil EC in the field: electromagnetic induction (EM) and contact electrode. See Glossary.

  5. 5.

    See Glossary for explanation.

  6. 6.

    See Glossary.

  7. 7.

    See Glossary.

  8. 8.

    The conventional terminology for data which is not real, such as data collected at the end of a harvest run where the harvester is emptying out or the cutting width is reduced but the yield monitor is calculating yield on a full comb width.

References

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Acknowledgement

The author would like to acknowledge that this chapter is based of a report on his 2004 Scholarship Report for the Australian Nuffield Farming Scholars Association, titled ‘Using precision and Conservation Agriculture to Improve Farm Profits and the Environment’.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clifton Farm, Stockport, SA, Australia

    Mark Branson

Authors
  1. Mark Branson
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Correspondence to Mark Branson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gawler, South Australia, Australia

    Philip Tow

  2. Alexander Avenue, Bibaringa, 5118, South Australia, Australia

    Ian Cooper

  3. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

    Ian Partridge

  4. Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Rese, Leader, Vegetable Centre, Burnie, 7320, Tasmania, Australia

    Colin Birch

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Branson, M. (2011). Using Conservation Agriculture and Precision Agriculture to Improve a Farming System. In: Tow, P., Cooper, I., Partridge, I., Birch, C. (eds) Rainfed Farming Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_34

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