Digital Technologies Determination Effectiveness for the Productivity of Organic Winter Wheat Production in Low Soil Performance Indicator

Abstract

The most important aspect of precision farming is the prediction of crop yield and quality. Digital technologies (soil maps and combine harvester with telemetry functions) were used to determinate the yield of organically grown winter wheat (variety Skagen) in two fields of 18.8 and 4.5 ha in Lithuanian regional conditions, in an area classified as low-performance for farming. The objective of the research was to determine the effectiveness of digital technologies (soil maps and combine harvester with telemetry functions) in assessment of the dynamics of soil pH, P2O5, and K2O, humus and organic winter wheat (variety Skagen) productivity, and grain crude-protein dependence in low-performance soils. Haplic Luvisol soils predominated, while Eutric Gleysols, Haplic Arenosols, and Eutric Planosols soils intervened in smaller areas, and the granulometric composition of the soil in the arable layer and the subsoil varied from sand to sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. In the sandy areas of Haplic Arenosols and in the lower parts of the field, where Eutric Gleysols, intervened in predominant Haplic Luvisols soils, winter wheat crude protein content and grain yield were lower. The biggest grain yield of 6.95 t ha−1 was obtained in Haplic Luvisols soils. Crude protein of winter wheat grains varied from 9.70 to 13.34%. Although both technologies reflected the non-uniform yields of the fields and correlation between them well, the information on the soil cover of the field better explained the reasons for lower yields. In the case of this research, sand inclusions and lower areas in winter wheat fields, causing plants to soak during winter, were identified. The combination of two digital technologies (soil maps and combine harvester with telemetry functions) made it possible to determine yields accurately, and quickly. Moreover, there is a need, in the future, to evaluate the reasons for yield variation and address changes in yields due to the improvement of certain low-performance soil areas. The complex use of these technologies can be beneficial in terms of labour and economy. However, the accurate benefit of labour time and economic should be investigated.