2024, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part B

The most limiting nutrient in crop production, particularly in irrigated cereal-based cropping systems, is nitrogen. Nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant metabolism, serving as an essential component of proteins, chlorophyll, and various physiological processes. With the global population steadily increasing, the demand for food is also on the rise. To meet this demand, there is a necessity to enhance food production.

In the fiscal year 2019-20, India's total nitrogen consumption was recorded at 17.6 million metric tons. Unfortunately, the application of fertilizers has been done through blanket recommendations, leading to nitrogen losses through weed depletion, fixation, leaching, volatilization, and denitrification. Moreover, higher doses negatively impact soil quality. To address these challenges and synchronize nitrogen supply with demand, precision nitrogen management emerges as a valuable approach.

Among the real-time methods for nitrogen application, tools like leaf color charts, soil plant analysis development meters, chlorophyll meters, and the Green Seeker system are noteworthy. The Green Seeker system stands out as an integrated optical sensor with variable rate application and mapping capabilities to measure crop nitrogen requirements. This system utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to generate red light (660 nm) and near-infrared light (780 nm). Plant chlorophyll absorbs red light during photosynthesis, with healthy plants absorbing more red light and reflecting increased near-infrared light. The biomass estimation through NDVI measurement using the optical sensor proves to be a reliable predictor of yield potential.

Compared to traditional nitrogen application methods, Green Seeker aids in achieving expected yields while reducing pollution and increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).