Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Partial budgeting structure for the acquisition of the crop sensor for VRNA Tabelle 2_ Teilkostenrechnungsansatz für die Anschaffung des Pflanzensensors für die variable Stickstoffausbringung (VRNA)
| Additional income | Additional costs |
|---|---|
| Yield increased | Equipment costs
|
| Reduced costs | Reduced income |
| Fertilizer amount | Yield decreased |
| A. Total additional income and reduced costs | B. Total additional costs and reduced income |
| Δ Net income = A – B | |
Financial data used for calculations Tabelle 5_ Für Berechnungen verwendete Finanzdaten
| Description | Value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium ammonium nitrate (€/t)1 | 191 | agrarheute (2020) |
| Milling wheat (12% protein [€/t])2 | 173 | AMA (2020) |
| Diesel (€/l)3 | 1.00 | globalpetrolprices (2020) |
| Exchange rate (€/£)4 | 1.10 | x-rates (2020) |
| CPI in the UK5 | 108.80 | ONS (2020) |
| CPI in Austria5 | 108.00 | Statistik Austria (2020) |
| Lifespan of sensor (years) | 15 | Assumed |
| Salvage value of sensor (%) | 26 | Edwards (2015) |
| List price of pneumatic spreader (€) | 23,000 | ÖKL (2019) |
| Salvage value of pneumatic spreader (%)6 | 40 | Edwards (2015) |
| Lifespan of precision spreader (years) | 10 | Assumed |
| Salvage value of precision spreader (%) | 35 | Edwards (2015) |
| Repair and maintenance of sensor (%) | 3 | ÖKL (2019) |
| Lifespan of the laptop (years) | 5 | Assumed |
| Insurance (%) | 2 | ÖKL (2019) |
| Interest rate (%)7 | 1.76 | ONB (2020) |
| Inflation rate (%)8 | 1.40 | Statistik Austria (2020) |
| VAT (%) | 20 | PwC (2019) |
| VAT on fertilizers (%) | 13 | OECD (2020) |
Additional studies and their change in yield due to the use of crop sensors for VRNA Tabelle 6_ Zusätzliche Studien und deren Ertragsänderung durch den Einsatz von Pflanzensensoren für VRNA
| Type of crop sensor | Δ yield relative to baseline (t/ha) | Study |
|---|---|---|
| Fritzmeier | 1.25 | Galambošová et al. (2015) |
| Hydro N | 0.16 | Link et al. (2002) |
| Yara Hydro N | 0.04 | Mayfield and Trengove (2009) |
Description of the scenarios implemented for VRNA during the field experimentTabelle 1_ Beschreibung der durchgeführten Szenarien im Feldversuch mit konventioneller und variabler Stickstoffausbringung (VRNA)
| Fertilizer application scenario | Description |
|---|---|
| Stimulus | Crops with lower sensor-determined yield than expected1 receive higher fertilizer rate |
| Compensatory | Crops with higher sensor-determined yield than expected1 receive lower fertilizer rate |
Additional precision farming expenses Tabelle 4_ Zusätzliche Ausgaben für die Präzisionslandwirtschaft
| Description | Cost | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| ISARIA crop sensor (€) 1 | 19,393 | Louise (2017) |
| AMAZONE ZA-TS 2000 mounted | 17,735 | Oliver (2018) |
| spreader (€) 2 | ||
| Laptop (€) | 1,099 | mediamarkt (2020) |
| Internet subscription (€/month) | 25 | magenta (2020) |
| Internet box (€) | 75 | magenta (2020) |
| Satellite mapping software fees (€/year)3 | 257 | moneysoft (2020) |
| Satellite yield zoning maps (€/year)4 | 60–120 | AgrarCommander (2020) |
Payback period to cover the cost of the crop sensor device using the reduced costs from fertilizing rate application savingsTabelle 7_ Amortisationszeit zur Deckung der Kosten für den Pflanzensensor unter Verwendung der reduzierten Kosten durch die Einsparungen bei der Düngerausbringung
| Payback period (years) | |
|---|---|
| Fertilized area in ha | Mean of stimulus and compensatory scenario |
| 25 | 331.2 |
| 50 | 165.6 |
| 75 | 110.4 |
| 100 | 82.8 |
| 125 | 66.2 |
| 150 | 55.2 |
| 175 | 47.3 |
| 200 | 41.4 |
| 225 | 36.8 |
| 250 | 33.1 |
Fertilizer application rates and yield changes in comparison to the conventional way of fertilizer applicationTabelle 3_ Vergleich der Düngerausbringungsraten und Ertragsänderungen des konventionellen und variablen Stickstoffausbringungsszenarios
| Scenario | Fertilizer applied (kg N/ha) | Δ relative to baseline (kg N/ha) | Yield (kg/ha) | Δ relative to baseline (kg/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional1 | 56 | – | 6,829 | – |
| Stimulus | 63 | +7 | 6,760 | −69 |
| Compensatory | 44 | −12 | 6,412 | −417 |