Development of measurement technologies to increase productivity, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen management decisions for grass crops

目前在农场实现的草产量还不到英国环境生物潜力的一半。草地产量低的主要原因之一是氮肥的次优使用和未能考虑到田间氮肥需求的空间变化。目前估算氮肥需要量的方法比较复杂，没有办法根据作物的需要对氮肥进行可变施用。该项目旨在开发用于耕地作物的技术（Yara N- sensor），以测量牧草对氮肥的需求。这将为农民提供一种简单、自动化的方法来更精确地控制施用于牧草的氮肥量。其好处包括更高的草产量，更高的农场盈利能力和环境效益，如减少温室气体排放和降低硝酸盐浸出的风险。该联盟由Yara（领导和N制造商），ADAS（管理和研究），Precision Decisions（技术），Countrywide Farmers（知识转移）和DLF Trifolium（草育种）组成。这个免费的联盟确保了世界一流的技术专长以及有效的开发途径。

Grass yields currently achieved on-farm are less than half of the biological potential for the UK environment. One of the main reasons for low grass yields is the sub-optimal use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser and failure to account for spatial variation in N fertiliser demand within fields. Current methods of estimating fertiliser N requirements are complex and there is no method for variably applying N according to crop needs. This project aims to develop technology used on arable crops (Yara N-Sensor) to measure the N fertiliser requirement of grass crops. This will provide farmers with a simple, automated method of controlling more precisely the amount of N fertiliser applied to their grass crops. The benefits include greater grass yields, greater farm profitability and environmental benefits such as fewer greenhouse gas emissions and a lower risk of nitrate leaching. The consortium consists of Yara (lead & N manufacturer), ADAS (management & research), Precision Decisions (technical), Countrywide Farmers (knowledge transfer), and DLF Trifolium (grass breeders). This complimentary consortium ensures world class technical expertise alongside an effective route for exploitation.