Variable Rate Operations for Orchards

Project information

Variable Rate Operations for Orchards

Call: Enabling Precision Farming

Id: 29957

Acronym: VAROS

Duration: 
1 January, 2016 to 31 December, 2018

Consortium:
No Partner Contact Country Total
1000€
Funded
1000€
Funder
1 Coord.Department of Engineering
Aarhus School of Engineering
Aarhus University
Claus SørensenDenmark173.9154.9Danish AgriFish Agency
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
2Soluciones Agrícolas de Precisión S.L. (AgroSap)Salvador CorreaSpain74.743.9Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía
3Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna
Maurizio CanavariItaly78.145.4Ministry of Agriculture Food, Forestry & Tourism Policies
4Atatürk Central Horticultural Research institute
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock
Adnan DoganTurkey144.165.5General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock
5Institute for Lab Automation and Mechatronics
Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil
Dejan SeatovicSwitzerland166.0124.6Federal Office for Agriculture - Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft

Summary: 

The ability to optimize inputs at spatial scale has been enabled with the use of Variable Rate Applications (VRA). Despite the fact that there are numerous VRA systems aimed at arable crops, specific systems for orchard management utilizing precision monitoring and application of the orchards are still lacking. These cropping systems face increasing market pressure to produce quality products, and provide a detailed traceable system for the origin of the product including, the treatments and the conditions that have occurred during the production. The main aim of this project is to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the VRA for orchard management, from the research stage to prototype testing, to enable more optimized use of inputs in fruit production, minimize the use of pesticides and protect the environment. The consortium has five partners from five countries participating with funding under this ICT-Agri Call. The field applications will be carried out in 3 countries: variable rate irrigation in Spain, variable rate fertilization in Turkey and variable rate spraying in Denmark. Specific orchards have been identified in all three countries: apples in Denmark and Turkey and olive oil and citrus trees in Spain. The project consists of five research activities. The first research activity will develop a set of algorithms for operations management for VRA in orchards based on task allocation and auxiliary data, the second activity will implement a set of sensing systems for 3D representation of the tree canopy and the remaining three research activities will deal with the three VRA (irrigation, fertilization and spraying). The project will also undertake adoption studies in the three countries, where the experimental fields are located. It will have an exploitation package for valorization of the results and a dissemination activity to publish and circulate the results into the scientific and farming communities.

Impact: 

VAROS exploits the lack of variable rate application (VRA) systems specifically designed for precision monitoring and application in orchard management. Horticulture and orchard management consistently face a demand to produce and market high-quality products, providing a detailed system for the origin of the product, including treatments and the conditions that were followed during production. The VAROS project developed information and decision models with specific controllers for irrigation, spraying, and fertilisation of orchards. Commercialisation of the system has advanced among the partners who developed the software. Additionally, promotional videos have been presented to potential co-operators. Following the business plan, the spraying controller will be marketed through the established spin-off company. Furthermore, potential users can download demo versions with various technical specifications, documentations, guidelines and demonstration videos. Key findings from the research and adoption of PA technological innovations in orchards will impact current and future developments of VRA technologies in horticulture, particularly for users with a lack of appropriate management guidelines.

Outputs: 
  • Field applications will be carried out in 3 countries: variable rate irrigation in Spain, variable rate fertilization in Turkey and variable rate spraying in Greece. Specific orchards have been identified in all three countries: apples in Turkey citrus in Spain and table grapes in Greece.
  • Develop a set of algorithms for operations management for VRA in orchards based on task allocation and auxiliary data. Implement a set of sensing systems for 3D representation of the tree canopy, which will feed into the research activities for the application of VRA (irrigation, fertilization and spraying).
  •  Adoption studies in Spain, Turkey and Greece, where the experimental fields are located.
Topics: 
  • Implementation of transnational Precision Farming solutions in orchards
  • Variable rate application of fertilisers, irrigation water and pesticides

Share your opinion: Add new comment