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1. Socio-demographic Factors Contributing to Adoption of E-commerce by Small Agribusiness Enterprises in the Upper East Region of GhanaTechnological revolution has become inevitable to development both to develop and developing economies in the 21th century. This revolution has triggered more advance market-base approaches to the transfer of goods and services, and information. This advance market-based approach has used the internet and electronic devices to bring suppliers and buyers more closely than ever before. Therefore, the adoption of E-commerce by Small agribusiness enterprises is inevitable as market exp... S. Omega, S. Akaba |
2. Excellence in Agronomy 2030: A new CGIAR-wide initiative to deliver agronomy solutions at scaleRequired increases in crop production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will not happen without the increased use of appropriate agronomic practices. While several thousand new varieties of nearly all key crops have been produced in the past decade, recent increases in yields in specific countries have only happened when such varieties received the right agro-inputs and management. That said, agronomy is often highlighted as an area that has not delivered impact at scale in SSA, or... B. Vanlauwe, T. Amede, F. Baudron, P. Chivenge, M. Devare, K. Saito, J. Kihara, V. Nangia, P. Pypers, K. Shepherd, E. Vandamme |
3. Maximisation de l’efficience d’utilisation de l’azote par la tomate(Solanum lycopersicum L.) sur les ferrasols au Sud du TogoMaximiser l'efficience d'utilisation de l'Azote (N) en culture de tomate s'impose pour améliorer le rendement et la rentabilité de la culture. Il a été mené sur trois ans, six cultures de tomate réparties sur deux périodes (septembre à janvier 2017-2019 et de février à mai 2018-2020) sur un sol ferralitique à la Station d'Expérimentations Agronomiques de Lomé suivant un dispositif ex... M. Lare, M.J. Sogbedji |
4. Digital platforms for boosting farmer knowledge: Two case studies in Kenya and UgandaApproximately 80% of all farms in Africa, or 33 million farms, are two hectares or less in size. Many of these smallholder farmers do not have access to resources, including extension services, to improve their farms. Lack of knowledge of Good Agronomic Practices (GAPs) causes farmers to fail to reach their full yield potential. Extension workers responsible to provide these GAPs to farmers are spread thin. For example, as of March of 2019, there was one extension worker for every 1,800 coffe... E. Bakirdjian, T. Harigaya, M. Osia, J. Zhu, J. Abuli |
5. Spatial Interpolation for Mapping Hydraulic Soil Properties in GIS EnvironmentSoil water information is an essential input for environmental, hydrological or land surface models. There is a need for reliable soil water information with current coverage in the area. A number of 60 soil profiles data were evaluated for the performance of estimates inverse distance weighting to map some of the soil quality properties. soil profiles were used for the application of geostatistics. Maps with the investigated coverage were produced with the soil information available about so... M.A. Abdelrahman, A.M. Saleh, M.M. El sharkawy, E. Farg, S.M. Arafat |
6. Mapping African soils at 30m resolution - iSDAsoil: leveraging spatial agronomy in farm-level advisory for smallholdersField level soil data has been the foundation of agronomic advisory, but traditional methods involving on-farm sampling are too expensive for a large proportion of African smallholders. Building on the work of the African Soil Information Service (AfSIS), Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture (iSDA) and partners have created an agronomic soil database which covers the entire African continent at a spatial resolution of 30 m. “iSDAsoil” combines remote sensing data and othe... J. Crouch |
7. Mechanisation of smallholders in Zambia by agrodealer developmentThe main challenges hampering agricultural mechanization in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are affordability, availability, lack of farmer skills and constraints within the private sector. Smallholders are trapped in a vicious circle of low income, low demand, high cost, and lack of financing. Low capacity and lack of support for mechanisation contractors (agrodealers) to succeed is holding back the development. The objectives of this work were (i) to assess the affordability of mechanisation syste... S. Peets, S. Woods |
8. Estimating soil organic carbon from cell phone imagesSoil organic matter (SOM) is considered as the backbone of soil health and soil quality. Thus, its’ estimation is critical to support the development of management decision including precision agriculture. To overcome challenges of laborious, rather expensive and time-consuming laboratory measurements, recent advances in image acquisition systems provided a new dimension of image-based SOM prediction. However, challenges remain in using soil images taken directly in the field due to var... A. Biswas, Y. Fu, P. Taneja, S. Lin, P. Daggupati, H. Vasava |
9. Mapping spatial variability of soil nutrient deficiencies in smallholder villages – a prerequisite for improved crop production in AfricaSmallholder farming is the dominating type of agricultural production in many parts of Africa. If cultivation practices can be adapted to match the specific needs of individual smallholder plots, this can certainly be regarded as a form of precision agriculture (PA), considering their limited size. A fundamental prerequisite for successful application of PA is the availability of basic information on soil properties at a detailed enough level. To fill yield gaps, site specific information mus... M. Söderström, K. Piikki, J. Kihara, J. Mutua, J. Wetterlind |
10. Acceptance and Usage of Agri-tech in smallholder Chinese systems: Lesson learnt and implications for other small-holder farming systems.This paper will present a synthesis of activities performed in a collaborative UK-China project (PAFiC - 2015-2019) aimed at achieving a better understanding of the translation of precision agriculture (PA) technologies into small farms in China. The intent is to outline the farmer-focused approach that was used in the PAFiC project and the tools developed to understand PA adoption trends in China. Finally, we consider the potential implications of the outputs from PAFiC for promoti... J. Taylor |
11. Just a moment; the need for streamlining precision agriculture data in AfricaPrecision agriculture (PA) data sources in the era of digital agriculture are diverse in terms of the range of technology options and the types of data they generate. These include proximal sensors, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), satellites, farm machinery mounted sensors and robotics to generate static data or real time information (e.g., yield monitoring). Government institutions, scientists and private sectors take the lion’s share in generating PA data at innovation, validation and ... T.B. Gobezie, A. Biswas |
12. Cashew Trees Detection and Yield Analysis using UAV-based MapIn this study we developed a novel method to detect cashew trees in an orthophoto map derived from images collected by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). We also suggest a way in which these detections can be used to analyse the yield of the cashew farm. The proposed method uses images analysis to find the tops of trees, to merge different tops located on the same tree, and to segment individual tree. The segmented trees are used in a deep learning framework to know the exact location of cashe... T. Bayala, I. Ouattara, A. Visala, S. Malo |
13. Implementation of Proximal Soil Sensing, Data Fusion and Machine Learning to Improve Phosphorus Management at a Field ScaleIn the context of a rapid increase in phosphorus (P) fertilizers prices, new techniques are needed for geospatial predictions of soil P for improved P fertilizer management, while increasing farmer profitability and reducing environmental concerns. One of the biggest issues in site-specific phosphorus management is the substantial spatial variability in plant available P across fields. This leads to an expensive and laborious process for accurate mapping soil P using a traditional soil sampli... A. Lachgar |
14. Assessment of Performance of APSIM Model with Experimental Data from the Short-term Biochar Experiment at Guinea Savanna Zone (Nyankpala), GhanaA three-year season, short-term study (2017–2019) was conducted at farming for the future UDS-Nyankpala, near Tamale in the Guinea Savannah Zone of Ghana. It was done to assess the effect of five different sources of biochar applications on rice-cowpea intercrop system on soil nutrient status and upland rice productivity. The experimental treatments comprised a control, 5 t/ha rates of high and low pyrolysis (400-7000C) of biochar. Five different sources of biochar (groundnut... |
15. Integrating Models and Data to Observe the Effect of Biochar Used in a Rice-Cowpea Intercrop System on Soil Hydrological PropertiesPhysical properties of biochar like small particle size are highly porous and can modify soil properties and help to enhance soil water dynamics. However, there has been no consistent long-term measurements of change in soil physical properties due to biochar application under real field conditions. The objective was to assess the impact of biochar use in a rice-cowpea intercrop system on soil hydraulic properties at the field by integrating a modeling with soil water content measurements in ... |
16. Simulate Plant Growth Response to Biochar applications on upland rice-cowpea intercrop and Inorganic N and P on a Ferric luvisols Soil in GhanaFive different sources of biochar (groundnut shells, rice husk, poultry manure, sawdust, and corn cobs) at a rate of 5t/ha were incorporated into the soil at a depth of 30 cm during field experiments in Nyankpala in Ghana. A split plot factorial design arranged in a randomized complete block with 4 replications was used. The uniqueness of the studies was that cowpea and inorganic fertilizer treatments were added to aid upland rice-cowpea N and P content of the biochar. These studies provide a... |
17. Crop water requirements, biomass and grain yields estimation for Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) using cropwat in semi-arid regions of TunisiaDwindling water resources and increasing food requirements require greater efficiency in water use, both in rainfed and in irrigated agriculture. Regulated deficit irrigation provides a means of reducing water consumption while minimizing adverse effects on yield. With the current water shortage in Africa improving crop water use is vital especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. Models can play a useful role in developing practical recommendations for optimizing crop production und... R. Hajri, M. Rezghui, M. Mechri, M. ben younes |
18. Estimating greensnap yield damage with canopy reflectance: a case studyGrain yield reduction caused by storm-induced plant breakage (green snap) occurs often in corn fields. With climate change and an increasing frequency in the occurrence of extreme weather events, it is essential to develop methods that can accurately estimate green snap damage, so growers can be properly compensated by insurance companies for yield loss. Because plant breakage also affects crop canopy reflectance, this case study aimed to characterize the changes in crop canopy reflecta... G. Dias paiao, T.J. Nigon, F.G. Fernández, C. Cummings, S.L. Naeve |
19. Feasibility studies on developing farmer friendly rapid in-situ evaluation technique for soil quality in cocoa planation based on pocket-sized near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometricsRapid and in-situ determination of soil quality holds a brighter potential for improving food security, food quality and minimizing waste of excessive application of soil amendments with its effect of pollution. In this study a pocket-sized NIR spectroscopy (740 -1070 nm) and chemometrics coupled with mobile phone was used to predict nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH and calcium (Ca2+) in cocoa plantation soils in Ghana. Different partial least square algorithms (Full... |
20. MARKET ACCEPTANCE AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR DRONE TECHNOLOGY IN THE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDE FOR THE CONTROL OF FALL ARMYWORMIn Ghana, maize is one of the major staple food crops. Since 2016, it has been plagued by fall armyworm, leaving production capacity below the national average. The introduction of drone technology was to assist farmers to reduce havoc caused by the fall armyworm. The majority of research done in the area of drone technology has focused on the technical and mechanical aspects. This gap gives rise to this study, as the study seeks to; find out the socioeconomic characteristics of maize farmers... S. Omega |
21. Spectral assessment of chickpea morpho-physiological traits from space, air and groundChickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important grain legume in semi-arid regions and water-stress is a major constraint to its productivity. Area under chickpea cultivation is growing but climate change toward greater aridity results in higher precipitation instability and risks yields. The ability to assess water potential can support irrigation decisions. Thus, improved ability to spatially assess plants water status can promote more efficient irrigation. The cu... I. Herrmann, R. Sadeh, A. Avneri, Y. Tubul, R. Lati, S. Abbo, D.J. Bonfil, Z. Peleg |
22. Mapping of soil nutrients variability in some plantation crops in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.The activities of man on the soil and the undulating topography have great effects on soil nutrients variability. For near accurate application of nutrients in precision agriculture in order to reduce wastage of resources, this research was conducted to acquaint the research farm of the institute with the nutrient variability at specific locations. A detailed soil survey was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farms of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria. ... E.C. Basil, R.T. Basil |
23. GESTION STRATEGIQUE DES NUTRIMENTS POUR L’AMELIORATION DU RENDEMENT ET DE LA PROFITABILITE ECONOMIQUE DU GOMBO (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) SUR LES SOLS FERRALITIQUES AU SUD TOGODes stratégies efficientes de gestion des nutriments sont indispensables pour une production agricole améliorée et durable. La performance du gombo (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) a été évaluée sous cinq approches de fertilisation dans un cycle de deux cultures successives à la Station d’expérimentations agronomiques de l’Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie de l’Université de Lomé (SEA/ES... K. Kotchadjo, J.M. Sogbedji |
24. VALIDATION OF CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVED CROP YIELDS IN SEMI-ARID LANDS IN KENYAKenya’s Vision 2030 economic strategy identifies agriculture as one of the key sectors to drive the Country’s economy. However, the agricultural sector faces various challenges. For instance, the sector is predominantly rain-fed due large coverage of arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) which is approximately 84% of the total land area. Due to challenges associated with rain-fed agriculture in Kenya, the ASALs have the lowest development indicators and the highest incidence o... A.O. Esilaba |
25. Precision Nutrient Management for Cassava ProductionMatching nutrient supplies with plant nutrient requirements is key to sustaining crop production while preserving the environment. However, fertilizer recommendations are either inexistent or provided as blanket rates in cassava production systems in sub-Saharan Africa. We studied the effects on cassava yield and profitability of site-specific fertilizer rates against farmer’s practices within the framework of the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) project in Nigeria and Tanzani... K.S. Ezui |
26. Spatial variability and mapping of selected soil quality indicators for precision farming at a smallholding level in Minna, NigeriaSmallholding farmers in Nigeria still practice blanket application of fertilizers, without giving consideration to spatial variations in soil properties across their fields. Understanding of spatial variability in soil properties is essential for precision farming, especially in this era of resource scarcity and high cost of fertilizers. This study was carried out to assess and map the spatial variability in selected soil quality indicators in a smallholder farm in Minna, North-central Nigeri... B. Lawal, M.K. Adeboye, P.A. Tsado |
27. Tomato yield and economic performance under organic and mineral fertilizer applications in coastal TogoResearch efforts towards enhancing vegetables production are still needed in Togo. We assessed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) yield and associated economic returns under three soil fertility management strategies in a 3-yr period study. Three tomato varieties were used including: MONGAL-F1 (V1), SUMO-F1 (V2) and COBRA 26-F1 (V3). The fertilization regimes were: no fertilizer application as the control (F1), application of 200 kg of N15P15K15 + 10... J.M. Sogbedji, M. Lare |
28. Effect of variability in monthly rainfall and temperature has any influence to daily milk production in Sahiwal cows in KenyaGithinji M.G 1,2* , Ilatsia E.D. 1 , Muasya T.K 2 and Bebe B.O. 2 1 Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization, KALRO-Naivasha, P.O. Box 25 – 20117 Naivasha, Kenya 2 Department of Animal Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115 Egerton, Kenya * corresponding author; macgithinji@gmail.com Abstract Monthly milk yield records of Sahiwal cows and meteorological data for monthly minimum and maximum temper... M.G. Githinji |
29. Precision Farming Technology to Increase Soil and Crop Productivity in Egypt Using Remote Sensing and GISPrecision farming or site-specific land management is a new approach for development the agriculture processes to increase the soil and crop productivity with saving efforts and costs. Precision farming includes many techniques such as Global Position Systems (GPS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Yield Monitors, Internet of Things (IOT), Variable Rate Application (VRA), Yield Mapping, Site-Specific Management Zones (SSMZ) and Crop Modeling. SSMZ delineation can be ... A. Belal, M. Elsayed , M.E. Jalhoum, M. abdelatif , E. Hendawy , M. Emam, M. Zahran |
30. Decision Support System for Precision Agriculture management Case study : El Salihiya –east Nile delta, Egypt.Soil is a complex mixture of living organisms and organic material, along with soil minerals. the main objective of this work is develop a new methods to improve the agricultural management .The current study relies on developing a decision-making model for agricultural operations to manage potato crops in the El Salihiya area using field data,laboratory analysis and field sensor measurements. The precision agriculture decision support system entitled (EGYPADS) was designed and develop... A. Belal , S. abd el-kader, B. Mamdouh , M. A el-shirbeny, M. abdellatif1, M. Jalhoum , M. Zahran, E.S. Mohamed |
31. Using Site-Specific Management Zones for Potato Crop Management, East Nile Delta, EgyptThe field management zones (MZ) delineated using soil electrical conductivity (EC) and topographic parameters are the basis for site-specific crop management (SSCM). The objective of this paper was to delineation site-specific management zones of 155 feddans (67.2 ha) of a potato pivot field at East of Nile Delta, Egypt for use in smart farming based on spatial variability of soil and plant properties, yield and topographic attributes. The salinity measurement in the f... A.B. Belal, E.S. Mohamed, M.E. Jalhoum, M. zahran, M.A. Abdellatif, M.S. Emam, E.A. Hendway |
32. Evaluation of on –farm oil palm yield parameters in Niger Delta region of NigeriaEvaluation of on –farm oil palm yield parameters in Niger Delta region of Nigeria *Ekhator F1., Osayande P1., Aduramigba-Modupe V.O2., Solomon O1., and Ikuenobe C.E1. 1Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) P.M.B 1030, Benin City, Edo State 2Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, O... E.C. Ikuenobe, K.D. Madukwe, F. Ekhator, V.M. Aduramigba, P.E. Osayande, S. Solomon, N.M. Okoye |
33. Development of Canopy Mapping System of Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Naka) Using Terrestrial Laser ScanningIn this paper, the canopy mapping system (CMS) of Asian pears for estimating yield during Bud thinning and Pruning operations using point cloud data was proposed. Bud thinning and Pruning in Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Naka) is necessary to ensure quality and yield but is time-consuming and heavily depends on work knowledge. This study described a method of estimating the number of fruits through the length of a branch based on remote sensing. The CMS would be useful to support more efficient... E. Morimoto, J. Lee, K. Nonami, I. Matumura, M. Ikebe, S. Sato |
34. USE OF DRONE IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN SENEGALIn Senegal more precisely in the valley of the Senegal River, we have introduced drones for use in precision agriculture. These Drones are used in phytosanitary treatment and fertilizer spreading. Thus we also test in the monitoring of plots, in particular to detect deficiencies in fertilizer, stresses and diseases. We have started with some producers in the treatment of rice plots with post-emergence herbicide and the results have been satisfactory, even going as far as a reduction in the do... O. Aidara |
35. CropSAT – opportunities for applications in precision agriculture in AfricaThe present paper aims at describing the CropSAT system, a Sentinel-2-based interactive decision support system (DSS) that provides vegetation index (VI) maps free-of-charge all across the globe for different applications in precision agriculture. We summarize research results from the ongoing developmental process and pointing to opportunities for development and application in precision agriculture in Africa. The DSS was initially developed in a research project at the Swedish University of... O. Alshihabi, I. Nouiri, M. Mechri, H. Angar, K. Piikki, J. Martinsson, M. Söderström |
36. La fertilité indigène du sol : un élément catalyseur de l’agriculture de précisionDans le contexte actuel de la dégradation des ressources naturelles et des problèmes de disponibilité et d'accessibilité des intrants agricoles, l'agriculture de précision dont le point d'entrée est la connaissance de la fertilité endogène du sol s'impose. Des essais soustractifs ont été conduits pendant deux ans (2018-2019) à la Station d'Expérimentations Agronomiques de l'Univers... K. William, J. Sogbedji, M. Lare |
37. EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING SORGHUM WITH COWPEA AND NITROGEN APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) MOENCH)Despite the development of improved varieties, the yield of sorghum has remained significantly low in dryland environments due to low soil fertility and inappropriate cropping practices. However, implementation of precision agriculture (PA) within the context of companion cropping with legumes and fine-tuning the supply of fertilizer nitrogen (N) has the potential to increase sorghum yield in these environments. Nonetheless, the effect sorghum-cowpea compatibility, fertilizer N use and their ... P.E. Moi , O.M. Kitonyo, G.N. Chemining’wa, J.M. Kinama |
38. Methodology for Assessing Nutrient Status of Nigeria Croplands: AfSIS/NiSIS Pilot Project - Pathway for Precision Agriculture MappingInherently low soil fertility, nutrient imbalances and accelerating degradation constitute threats to precision agriculture (PA), agricultural productivity and ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria inclusive). Presently, the geographical extent of existing nutrient constraints, location specific trends and opportunities for managing these over time are highly uncertain. The AfSIS/NiSIS project assessment aims to provide spatially explicit observations, measurements and predictions... V. Aduramigba-modupe, I. Amapu, M. Walsh, B. Scott |
39. Soil fertility mapping of Dry savannah zone of TogoIncreasing agricultural productivity and therefore the production requires a good knowledge of the soil fertility status and a sustainable nutrients management. The objective of this study is to map spatial distribution of some selected soil fertility parameters in the dry savannah agro-ecological zone that covers the regions of Savanes and Kara in Togo. Soil fertility parameters such as pH, available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K) and organic matter were determined in soil sample... K.K. Ganyo, K.A. Ablede , K. Koudjega, S. Ani, K. Afawoubo, D.A. Anoumou, A.T. Mensah, E. Assih-faram, M. Tchalla-kpondji, K. Kpemoua, Y. Lombo |
40. Nutrient management tailored to smallholder agriculture enhances productivity and sustainabilityPlant nutrition plays a central role in the global challenge to produce sufficient and nutritious food, lessen rural poverty, and reduce the environmental footprint of crop production. Efficient fertilizer use requires tailored solutions that are scientifically sound, practical and scalable especially for smallholder farmers, such as the crop-led site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approach developed in the 1990s for cereal production systems in Asia to address variability among farms. O... P. Chivenge, K. Saito, M. Bunquin, S. Sharma, A. Dobermann |
41. Determining Nutrients rates for Maize, Rice, Cotton, and Tomato in Dry Savannah zone of Togo based on site specific nutrient management approachInadequate fertilizer application limits crop yields and lead to the soil fertility depletion. This study aims at formulating nutrients rates recommendations for main the crops in dry savannah zone of Togo. Site specific nutrient management approach based on spatial variations in nutrients status, crops nutrients requirement and average crop yields under field conditions was used to determine recommendations rates in N, P and K. For maize cropping, nutrients needs are 94 kgN.ha-1, ... |
42. A precision irrigation app for smart water management by farmersIn a context of climate change and water scarcity which is globally recognized, Morocco is one of the countries that are facing already insufficient water supply for irrigation in order to sustain productivity and food security. Therefore, there is a strong need for adapting agricultural practices and developing new technologies for efficient and smart irrigation management to make best use of available water and maximize productivity per unit of consumed water. Recent studies have shown that... A. Abouabdillah , R. Bouabid |
43. Some essential nutrients, active limestone and pH status of north and center Tunisian soils.Tunisia is a North African country characterized by a Mediterranean climate in the north and Saharan climate in the south part of the country, which resulted in a high geo-morphological diversity of its soils. The last are known by their various fertility status that is affected by abiotic constrains such as salinity, drought, erosion and low organic matter concentration. Thereby, soil fertility is largely linked to geographical position, making fertilization recommendatio... A. Hachana, I. Hemissi, I. Achour, A. Souissi, B. Sifi |
44. IMPACT OF SENSOR-BASED PRECISION NITROGEN MANAGEMENT ON WHEAT YIELD AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCYOptical sensors are promising new technology for precision nitrogen management in crops. Fertilizer N management for wheat (Cultivar: Giza 171) using optical sensor (GreenSeeker®) was evaluated at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications during two successive winter seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) to quantify the relationship between N uptake at jointing grow... A.A. Soaud, E.A. El-metwally , A.M. Ali, R.K. Sayed |
45. Effect of Plant Population and Nitrogen Rate on Growth and Yield of Two Pre-release rice varieties in KenyaThe application of precision agriculture (PA) through the optimization of plant population and management of fertilizer nitrogen (N) can increase rice yield. Current rice (Oryza sativa) plant population and fertilizer nitrogen (N) management guidelines in Kenya were developed from research conducted about three decades. These management guidelines might still be robust and could be applied to recently released as well as close-to- release varieties. However, the yield potential o... W. Kioko, W. Kioko, W. Kioko, W. Kioko, O. Kitonyo, G. Chemiming'wa, S. Gebeyehu, R. Murori |
46. A review on Sensor based robotics agriculture: Improving traditional Agriculture PracticesAgribot could be a mechanism designed to reduce the labor of farmers by increasing the speed and accuracy of the work. Elementary functions concerned in farming i.e. plowing the sphere, sowing of seeds and covering the seeds with soil. Agribot is associate degree autonomous mechanism that provides the power for choices for offered techniques. Fruit Picker robots, autonomous tractor&nb... S.C. Karad, G.U. Shinde, P. Kumar |
47. Development of Lodging Direction Determination System Using Image ProcessingIn this study, image processing system was developed for application on rice plants to determine lodging condition, which was contributing factor to declining harvester efficiency by using combine harvester. Therefore, We developed a system for determination of the lodging direction by algorithm based on convolutional neural network (CNN). As for deep learning framework, Pytorch1.1.0 were used to train and test the judging direction. GoogLeNet was used as a pre-trained CNN model. ... E. Morimoto, Y. Arai, K. Nonami, T. Ito |
48. Performance agronomique et économique de différentes stratégies de gestion de la fertilité du sol sous culture de soja (Glycine max L. Merril) dans la zone littorale du Togo.Ce travail a pour objectif de valoriser les émondes de deux légumineuses arbustives et quelques fertilisants organiques pour améliorer la production du soja. Afin de parvenir à cet objectif, les paramètres comme la masse de mille graines, les rendements en gousses, en graines, en fanes du soja et autres ont été déterminés. L’étude a eu lieu à la Station d’Expérimentation Agronomique de Lomé ... K.M. Amouzouvi, K.E. Ozou, L. Kolani, K.A. Amouzouvi, J.M. Sogbedji |
49. Monitoring Corn (Zea mays) Yield using Sentinel-2 and Machine Learning for Precision Agriculture ApplicationsCurrently, there is a growing demand to apply precision agriculture (PA) management practices at agricultural fields expecting more efficient and more profitable management. One of PA principal components for site-specific management is crop yield monitoring which varies temporally between seasons and spatially within-field. In this study, we investigated the possibility of monitoring within-field variability of corn grain yield in a 22ha field located in Ferarra, North Italy. Archived yield ... A. Kayad, M. Sozzi, F. Pirotti, F. Marinello, L. Sartori, S. Gatto |
50. Small Machinery for Sustainable Intensification of Crop-Livestock System under Biomass ShortageSmall crop-livestock systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) such as North African ones are characterized by low mechanization levels, thus undermining their productivity and sustainability. Machinery being promoted in local markets are made and imported mostly from industrial countries where farm systems are larger in terms of size. Prices of these machines are not affordable for small to medium sized land-holding farmers who remain incapable of upgrading and modernizing their far... U. Rudiger, Z. Aidoudi, A. Frija, M. Rekik, A. Zaiem, H. Cheikh |
51. Monitoring irrigation water use at large scale irrigated areas using remote sensing in water scarce environmentIncreasing pressure on available water resources in semi-arid region will affect the availability of water for irrigated agriculture. In this context, adoption of innovative and cost-effective tools for water management and analysis of water use patterns in irrigated areas is required for an efficient and sustainable use of water resources. This study aims to evaluate a remote sensing-based approach which allows estimation of the temporal and spatial distribution of crop evapo... M. Kharrou, V. Simonneaux, M. Le page, S. Er-raki, G. Boulet, J. Ezzahar, S. Khabba, A. Chehbouni |
52. Potential precision agriculture practices for higher fruit and vegetable production in West Africa: A ReviewDuring the last decades, efforts have been made to increase the yield and the quality of major fruits and vegetables but still, farmers mainly those in West African countries are struggling to close the yield gap. Precision agriculture has been reported in most developed countries as a set of tools integrating information and technologies for efficient crop production. Over the decades, scholars have been skeptical about the development and implementation of precision agriculture in West Afri... V. Fassinou hotegni, L.W. Azonhoumon, E.G. Achigan-dako |
53. Using Remote Sensing to Develop Site-Specific Nitrogen Management in Citrus OrchardsIntegrating multivariate spatial analysis with the delineation of site-specific management zones (MZ) provides a basis for practical and cost-effective management of water and nitrogen (N) fertilization in precision agricultural (PA). In many crops, measurements of leaf N content are used to assess the plant’s nutritional status and to develop fertilizer application plans for optimal yields. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to develop leaf N content prediction for citrus based on ... E. Rave, N. Ohana, R. linker, D. Termin, A. Beryozkin, T. Paz-kagan, S. Baram |
54. LiDAR-based soybean crop segmentation for autonomous navigationThe technological advances in the last few decades have greatly changed agricultural operations. In order to became safer, more profitable, efficient, and sustainable, modern farms have adopted the use of sophisticated technologies, such as robots, sensors, aerial images, and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). These technologies not only increase the crop productivity, but also reduce the wide use of water, fertilisers, and pesticides. Due to this, they reduce costs and negative envir... V.A. Higuti, A.E. Velasquez, M.V. Gasparino, D.V. Magalhães, M. Becker, D.M. Milori, R.V. Aroca |
55. Deep Learning is bringing pan-African small holder advisory services based on mid-infrared spectroscopic soil analysis to the next levelThe majority of African smallholder farmers do not have access to soil analytical services. The main reasons are relatively high costs of wet chemical services and difficult logistics. As a result they have to rely on blanket fertilizer recommendations. This often causes poor soil management due to very heterogeneous soil conditions. As a result, the return on investment from blanket fertilizer recommendations is low and fertilizer acceptance is not growing among smallholder farmers. Soil spe... T. Terhoeven-urselmans, D. Fletcher, M.M. Karanja, J.W. Kamau |
56. Autonomous Hexacopter Spraying drones for plants protectionAbbes KAILIL1, Hassan BENAOUDA2, Abdelhakim MOHCINE3, 1 Eng. Doctor in aerospace engineering, Moroccan Industry Services & Engineering SARL, Morocco. 2 Eng. Doctor in Agriculture, INRA, Morocco. 3 Engineer in agriculture, ONCA, Morocco. Farming technologies have consi... H. Benaouda, A. Mohsine, A. Kailil |
57. Soil organic carbon mapping in Tunisia: comparison of different interpolation methodsSoil organic carbon (SOC) stock is an important carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems. It plays an important role in agricultural productivity and is often used as a key indicator of soil quality whether for soil fertility or climate regulation. SOC stocks are difficult to estimate due to the large spatial variability. In this way, many different techniques have been conducted for predicting and mapping SOC content. However, although numerous techniques are in use, there is still debate on wh... M. Barbouchi, H. Bahri, A. Souissi, H. Cheikh m'hamed, M. Annabi |
58. Fertilizer Micro-dosing on Growth and Vegetative Yield of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f)The study evaluated growth and vegetative response of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f) to levels and time of micro-dosing Urea fertilizer. The experiment was conducted in two growing seasons of late and early cropping seasons of 2017 and 2018 respectively at the Teaching and Research Farm of Obafemi Awolowo University. The experiment was a factorial laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications involving seasons, levels of fertilizer (0, ... P.A. Amao, B. Amujoyegbe, D. Oyedele |
59. Determinants of the adoption of an intelligent monitoring system and effects on farms performance in TunisiaConcidering the observation of the rise of Computerized Management Software Packages and intelligent monitoring in a path of modernization of agricultural techniques, we questioned the main factors influencing the decision to adopt management software, farmers’ perception of these management tools and their impact on farm performance. Referring to a theoretical framework focused on innovation and the adoption of technologies in agriculture, we triggered the hypothesis of research... J. Ben nasr, H. Chiboub, M. Msaddak |
60. Mapping of micronutrients status in soils under multivarietal Citrus sinensis production for precision agricultureCitrus production in Nigeria is below the world average; and this is caused among other things by poor soil management. The situation is further acerbated by blanket fertilizer application and low application of precision in soil fertility management. A study was carried out on a 34 year old multi varietal citrus orchard under sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) to determine the current soil fertility status and variability of micronutrients. Soil samples were collected at a sampling dept... B.N. Okafor, B.N. Okafor, V. Aduaramigba, O. Denton |
61. Crop monitoring and forecasting system based on cloud data and capabilitiesVarious systems for crop monitoring & forecasting, using satellite images and meteorological data, exist around the world. Their complexity differs from one system to another, according to the temporal and spatial scale and according to the objectives assigned to them. Among the well known are the European Monitoring Agricultural ResourceS system, the USDA system of the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Moroccan CGMS system, the Belgian CGMS system and the Chinese CropWatch system.&n... |
62. Predicting in-Season Sorghum yield potential using Remote Sensing Approach: a case study of Kano in Sudan Savannah agro- ecological zone, NigeriaThe preliminary estimation of expected yields and the accuracy of this evaluation provide information for decision-making related to the harvest. Estimating crop yield using remote sensing techniques has proven to be successful, having the ability to provide yield estimates prior to harvest. This study was conducted to examine the applicability of Sentinel-2B for estimating sorghum yield during the 2018 rainy season in Bebeji, Dawakin-Kudu and Rano Local Government Areas Kano State, in the Su... A. Tukur, H.A. Ajeigbe, F.M. Akinseye, I.B. Mohammed, M.M. Badamasi |
63. Analysis, design and development of a web and mobile application for fertilizer olive orchards recommendationsFarmer’s fertilization practices (FFP) in olive intensive or super intensive orchards must be improved to a better control of fertilization costs, to increase olive yielding, to maintain soil fertility and to avoid environment pollution. Indeed, a large category of fertilizer users apply fertilizers arbitrary (66%) without any knowledge about the adequate nutrient requirements of a such planting system. To improve the FFP in intensive and super intensive olive orchards, and in the frame... A. Larbi, H. Boulal, H. El arbi, W. Ben hamouda |
64. détermination du bilan minéral partiel des exploitations agricoles à base du coton à l’aide du modèle NUTMONLa dégradation des sols des exploitations agricoles constitue ces dernières années une des causes principales des baisses de rendements au champ. A cet effet, la détermination quantitative des éléments nutritifs des sols cultivés peut contribuer à concevoir des stratégies de gestion durable de la fertilité de ces sols. C’est dans cette optique que 30 exploitations agricoles à base de coton ont été... A. Komlan, K. Kokou zovodu, A. Bassarou, G. Esso-iheyou, P. Justin |
65. Enhancing the Use of Appropriate Fertilizers for Improving Rice and Maize Production in TanzaniaMost soils under maize and rice production in Tanzania are characterized by low soil fertility. Fertilizer recommendations were developed in Tanzania to improve soil productivity but most of them are for N and P nutrients. The recommendations do not cover secondary and micro nutrients because the data for these nutrients are very few to establish response functions. In year 2017 to 2019, trials were conducted in 769 farmers’ field in Tanzania to determine soil fertility status and the r... C.J. Senkoro |
66. Precision Nitrogen Management in Maize Using an Optical Sensor in the Indo-Gangetic PlainsBlanket fertilizer nitrogen (N) for large irrigated maize field lead to low N use efficiency (NUE) due to spatial and in season temporal variability. In order to achieve higher NUE, a fertilizer N management strategy using GreenSeekerTMoptical sensor was evaluated. GreenSeekerTM uses visible and near-infrared spectral response from crop canopies. We conducted 03 field experiments during 2012-14 in monsoon season maize to define relationship and develop algorithm between in sea... V. Singh |
67. The status of precision agriculture and its adoption in MoroccoPrecision agriculture (PA), as an integrated crop management system that uses various tools and technologies for assessing and monitoring soil and crop spatial variability and for implementing site-specific (variable rate) applications, is a concept that becomes nowadays in many developed countries a common practice rather than an innovation. On the contrary, in most developing countries, agriculture is still struggling with the basics of farming and is constrained by many factors, such as la... R. Bouabid |
68. Development, validation and dissemination of a soil tool kit for site specific soil health assessmentSmallholder farmers, extension and partners in agricultural development have limited access to analytical laboratories due to high costs and remote locations. Yet, it is very important to assess soil health and provide farmers with context specific options to increase crop yields and soil fertility. The goal of the project was to develop, validate and disseminate a soil tool kit that that uses minimum reagents to provide site-specific soil quality measures in/near field to inform farmer decis... B. Nyamasoka-magonziwa |
69. Machine learning algorithms in predicting soil moisture content in intercropping systems under reduced tillage in a clay soil in semi-arid ZimbabweIntegration of legumes into maize-based cropping systems is advocated as a means to increase on-farm productivity in smallholder farming systems. However, in semi-arid areas of southern Zimbabwe soil water availability remains one of the major challenges to smallholder crop production. Although bio-physical models have been used in simulating soil water dynamics, results have been varied and incorporating machine learning (ML) algorithms can complement deterministic modelling tools in predict... E. Masvaya |
70. Sequencing integrated soil fertility management options for improved crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency on sandy soilsMaintaining high use efficiency of nutrient resources available to farmers is key to sustainable intensification of African smallholder farms. Multi-locational on-farm experiments were conducted on degraded sandy soils (< 10 % clay) in eastern Zimbabwe over 4 cropping seasons to evaluate different manure-, fertilizer- and legume-based integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) options with respect to maize productivity and, fertilizer nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) use eff... H. Nezomba |
71. Comparative fertilization effects on maize productivity under conservation and conventional tillage on sandy soils in a smallholder cropping system in ZimbabweLow crop yields, food insecurity and abject rural poverty continue to be rampant in much of Southern Africa. Components of conservation agriculture (CA) are being widely promoted in southern Africa as one of the strategies to increase food security and mitigate rural poverty, despite there being scarce empirical evidence on their efficacy on degraded soils. This research aimed to assess the effects of tillage systems on maize grain yields under rain-fed conditions across a soil organic matter... R. Chikowo, S. Zingore, N. Kafesu |
72. Does the combination of conservation agriculture and fertilizer microdosing improve soil chemical properties in semi-arid Zimbabwe in the short term?Crop yields in the fragile semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe have been declining over time due to decline in soil fertility resulting mainly from droughts and lack of fertilizers. However, conservation agriculture (CA) and fertilizer micro-dosing (MD) have the potential to sustainably improve crop yields. A field experiment was set-up to assess the effects of integrating CA and MD on soil quality. It was hypothesized that the two practices improve soil chemical properties (soil organic carbon (SOC)... A. Shumba |
73. Maize-cowpea intercropping as an ecological intensification option for low input systems in sub-humid Zimbabwe: productivity, biological N2-fixation and grain mineral content.Poor soil fertility and erratic rainfall constrain crop production in rain-fed smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Integration of cowpea, a drought tolerant and N2-fixing crop into maize-based cropping systems is a risk-averse strategy that also improves N cycling. A field experiment was carried out during 2017/18 and 2018/19 cropping seasons in Zimbabwe to assess the effect of intercropping and fertilizer micro doses on productivity, N2-fixation and grain mineral co... T. Namatsheve |
74. Comparison of soil testing and scanning methods for spatial variability assessment of soil fertility: implications for precision agricultureUnderstanding spatial variability of soil fertility is a key to variable rate nutrient applications for precision fertilization. The objective of this study was to assess field spatial variability of soil fertility using two approaches, a gridded soil testing and a scanner-based technique. Measurements were performed on a quarter pivot silage corn field of 13 ha. For the first approach, soil samples were taken on a geopositioned grid and were analyzed for the main physicochemical and nutrient... R. Bouabid |
75. Spatial variability of soil and tree nutrient status in relation to bitter pit incidence in apple orchards in the Sais plateau, MoroccoDiscreet spatial variability of soil fertility affects crop productivity and quality. In general, nutrient deficiencies are the most incriminated. However, excess or unbalanced nutrient can also impact seriously both yield and quality, especially in fruit tree crops. Bitter-pit, a nutrient disorder related to K-Ca-Mg unbalance in apple orchards can cause major loss of apple quality in field, as well as on post-harvest following periods of cold storage. Conventional composite sampling for soil... R. Bouabid |
76. Spatial soil loss risk assessment for proper intervention: a case of Neri watershed in Omo Gibe basin, Southwestern EthiopiaSoil erosion is one of the biggest global environmental problems resulting in both on-site and offsite effects. It contributes negatively to agricultural production, quality of source water for drinking, ecosystem health in land and aquatic environments, and aesthetic value of landscapes. This study was conducted in Neri watershed, part of Omo Gibe basin with area of 465.46 km2. RUSLE model supported by a GIS framework is used to assess the average annual soil loss, and create a soil erosion ... A. Hegano |
77. Sensor Based In-Season Nitrogen Determination for Quality Protein Maize on Farmers Field Western EthiopiaQuality protein maize production is a current common practice and widely produced in western Ethiopia but its productivity is negatively affected by low rate and time of nitrogen application but there is still inadequate research on this phenomenon in quality protein maize production. This in view different attempts have been made to solve the soil fertility problems using sensor-based nitrogen management in southwestern and western Ethiopia. The objectives of this review were to summarize pa... T. Abera |
78. Climate Smart Agriculture: Constraints, Challenges and Opportunities to Promote the System in EthiopiaAgriculture is vital to the economy of Ethiopia and its development has significant implications for food security and poverty reduction. An increase in agricultural production over the past decades has been due to land area expansion, with a modest change in production techniques and improvement in yields. Yet, the substantial reliance of the sector on rain-fed systems has made it particularly vulnerable to variability in rainfall and temperature and climate change. Climate change may decrea... G. Agegnehu, T. Amede |
79. Application of Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) into Precision Farming Ecosystem in Ethiopian Digital Agriculture Development Perspective PlanInformation and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in agriculture is an emerging fields focusing on the enhancement of agriculture and digital technologies for precision farming are now replacing the traditional farming system. The Ethiopian government recognized the importance ICTs for the country’s development and ICT in Agriculture is also expected to be a key catalyst for the transformation of Agriculture so as to contribute for the economic prosperity in the country. The endorsed an... T. anberbir |
80. Geo-statistical Prediction of Spatial Distribution of Salt-affected Soils of Meki-Zeway agricultural areas: Actionable baseline information for practical implementation of precision agriculture in similar salinity/sodicity prone areas in EthiopiaSalinity and sodicity-induced soil degradation are major soil property related environmental constraint with severe negative impacts on productivity and sustainability of both rainfed and irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid lowlands of Ethiopia. The spatial prediction, data bases creation and preparation of actionable digital soil salinization/sodiciation pattern maps has a special importance to enable site-specific management system leading to the establishment and execution of Digit... M. Minaleshoa |
81. Soil fertility characterization and mapping for Adigudem plain, Northern EthiopiaAs Ethiopia’s agriculture has been influenced by variability and poor soil fertility management and information, thus this study was aimed to determine the physico-chemical properties of soils and build geo-referenced soil information systems so as to have precision agriculture for adigudem plain. An area of 229 km2 comprising different villages was delineated for the study. Soil sampling points were arranged in a grid form and georeferenced using a hand-held GPS. A total of 194 Soil sa... G. Berhe |
82. The roles of key public services on the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies in coffee-based farming system of EthiopiaMany studies focused on the adoption studies of relatively expensive technologies such as improved varieties, inorganic fertilizers, and agricultural machines. However, limited empirical studies have been conducted on the adoption of improved agricultural practices such as intercropping, manure application, crop rotation with leguminous crops and forages, conservation tillage, and soil and water management practices which are tremendously important for climate change adaptation and mitigation... S. Diro |
83. Using Decision Support Tool for Site Specific Nutrient Management in Maize Production in Ethiopia: The case of Nutrient ExpertThere are huge variabilities among farmers in terms of crop management practices, soil types and fertility status as well as climatic conditions all of which affects crop fertilizer requirement and yield. Despite these variations, farmers are using blanket/regional fertilizer recommendations, which does not consider the above-mentioned variabilities. As a consequence, farmers are either practicing over fertilization or under fertilization, both of which have undesirable consequences. Therefor... T. Balemi |
84. Changes in climatic factors lead to the change in cultural wedging of rice in the Ivorian pre-forest zoneClimate change in the pre-forest zone of Cote d'Ivoire has led to a mismatch between cropping periods and new seasons, challenging the sowing periods usually recommended for rainfed rice cultivation in this area. Our study aims to determine the optimal sowing period for two rainfed rice varieties cultivated in this pre-forest zone of the country. The agroclimatic analysis carried out over the period 1980-2017 allowed to determine the optimal dates for sowing ri... C. Brou |
85. Caractérisation architecturale pour la prédiction du potentiel de production des tètes de clones de Coffea Caenophora pierre ex a. froehnerLe café demeure jusqu’à ce jour une culture très importante dans le monde et particulièrement en Côte d’Ivoire. Cette culture est avec les changements climatiques confrontée à de nombreux facteurs qui limitent sa production. Parmi ces facteurs les plus problématiques sont : la baisse de la fertilité des sols, les insectes et les performances agronomiques de l’espèce et/ou de la variété cu... H. Kouassi |
86. Keynote 1 - Precision Agriculture for Smallholders : Imperatives for Africa’s AgricultureThe African continent is at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) with significant challenges around inclusivity. The concept of the 4-IR will imply the deployment of technologies at unprecedented scale at a time when sustainable production underscores the need to produce twice as much with half the resources. For Africa, Precision Agriculture (PA) as a modern technology, represents a sustainable approach that will help farmers to manage their resources and increase product... Y. Akinbamijo |
87. Keynote 2 - Satellite Earth Observations and Machine Learning for Agricultural Monitoring in Sub-Saharan AfricaFood security is one of the most pressing issues faced by many African countries today. 2019 brought further shocks and setbacks to crop production across Africa. Farmers in East Africa, for example, faced more devastating floods, the most severe (and still ongoing) desert locust infestation in 70 years, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected every sector and every food sys... C. Nakalembe |
88. Discussion with Keynotes... Y. Akinbamijo, C. Nakalembe |
89. Scale Independent Precision AgricultureThe advent of precision agriculture that occurred in the USA about three decades ago involved application of advanced and innovative technologies. Precision agriculture in the US and other advanced countries continued in that direction and today it is more sophisticated and complex than before. Interestingly, the concept of Precision Agriculture is relatively simple and does not mandate utilization of advanced technologies to practice precision agriculture. For example, it may take a su... R. Khosla |
90. Field-specific nutrient management in smallholder farming systems: the future or a pipe-dream?... T. Schut |
91. Discussion of Precision Agriculture for Smallholders - Western Time ZonesThis live discussion will consist of all the panelist on the PA for Smallholders session. Use the Q & A tools in the webinar program to pose questions to the speakers. A moderator will relay questions to the speakers. ... R. Khosla, J. Taylor, J. Crouch, T. Schut |
92. Keynote 3 - Setting the Record Straight on Precision Agriculture AdoptionAdoption of precision agriculture (PA) around the world has been uneven. Some PA technologies have been the most rapidly adopted agricultural technologies in history and others have lagged. Among the disappointments is variable rate fertilizer, which was among the first PA technologies, but has become standard practice only for some farming niches. PA is a tool box – Farmers take the tools that they need and leave the rest. For example, in countries with mechaniz... J. Lowenberg-deboer |
93. Panel 1 - Pathways to Adoption... J. Lowenberg-deboer, R. Khosla, J. Andersson, B. Vanlauwe |
94. Precision fertilizer management for soil fertility improvement in Sub-Sahara AfricaAttainment of food security remains one of the biggest challenges facing sub Saharan Africa. The continent continues to experience low production as a result of the low and declining soil fertility and land degradation, which have been compounded by unfavorable climatic conditions. Since the 1960s, there have been effort to transform the agricultural sector through promotion of diverse approaches of soil nutrient management. Research has demonstrated the potential and importance of fertilizer... A. Bationo |
95. Imagining Precision Farming in AfricaAfrica needs its own and unique Green Revolution now, but it can also take advantage of many lessons learned all over the world. Precision farming is much more than the application of advanced, expensive technologies for managing soils and crops on a commercial scale. In the African context, it is all about better agronomy at any scale, including small and medium-size farms. Many ingredients for that exist already, whereas others still need to find their way into scalable business soluti... A. Dobermann |
96. Agronomy and Small Farm Mechanization - Jat... M. Jat |
97. Discussion of Agronomy and Small Farm Mechanization... A. Dobermann, V. Fassinou hotegni, T. Terhoeven-urselmans, M. Jat |
98. Decision Aids: Mobile Apps and SensorsProducers are challenged daily with decisions. With the advancement in technologies the access to decision aid tools is becoming more wide spread. This decussion covers a few of the easily to use and apply technologies available. ... B. Arnall |
99. Decision Support Systems, Mobile Apps, and Sensing Technology - Discussion - Western Time Zones... B. Arnall, S. Baram, K. Ezui, V. Singh |
100. Keynote 5 - Fatiha Charradi... F. Charradi |
101. Panel 2 - Providing Precision Agriculture Service in Africa... F. Charradi, A. Karim, J. Cordingley, E. Bakirdjian |
102. Mapping African soils at 30m resolution - iSDAsoil - Western Time Zones“iSDAsoil” combines remote sensing data and other geospatial information with carefully stratified point samples subjected to spectral analysis and traditional wet chemistry reference analysis. State of the art machine learning techniques were used to create digital maps of 17 agronomically important soil properties at 3 depths, including estimates of uncertainty. iSDAsoil is designed to encourage sharing and we hope that the owners of other soil and agronomic data, in i... J. Crouch, K. Shephard, M. Miller, J. Collinson, P. Singh, P. Pypers, R. Van den bosch, C. Van beek, M. Chernet, S. Aston |
103. Keynote 6 - Farmer-led design and knowledge sharing: Empowering smallholders to maximize impactProducers Direct is an international non-profit led by smallholder farmers for smallholder farmers. With over a decade of experience in farmer-led design and experimentation, Producers Direct has piloted and scaled a number of in-person and digital solutions that have improved the livelihoods for over 1 million small-scale farmers across East Africa and Latin America to-date. International recognition for our work has included UK Google Impact Challenge winner; World Bank Collaborative D... C. Rhodes |
104. On-farm experimentation. A major role for precision agriculture in African agricultureIs precision agriculture relevant to African Ag? Most people envision fancy technology when they consider precision agriculture (PA). Indeed, over the past 30 years or more PA has introduced a range of exciting technologies to agriculture. But the real change is not the technology itself, but the new ways technology enables farmers to manage complex and uncertain systems. This message dates back to the early days of PA but has been superseded by technological prowess and needs to be... S. Cook |
105. On-Farm Experimentation and Knowledge Exchange - Kindred... D. Kindred |
106. On-Farm Experimentation and Knowledge Exchange - Discussion... S. Cook, T. Gobezie, E. Bakirdjian, D. Kindred |
107. Keynote 7 - Beatrice Gakuba, Executive Director, AWAN-AFRIKA... B. Gakuba |
108. Building Precision Agriculture Capacity... A. Egeru, C. Rhodes, B. Gakuba |
109. Keynote 8 - Precision Agriculture in Sub- Africa: The Path ForwardSmallholder farmers contribute significantly to food security and rural livelihoods in Africa, but their yields are often low due to declining soil fertility, high input costs, and decreased availability of land for cultivation among other factors. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, soil physicochemical and biological properties are heterogeneous among farms within same or different agro-ecological zones, with obvious consequences for yields. This variabili... K. Frimpong |
110. The AgroCard-Côte d’Ivoire projectLe secteur agricole fait désormais partie des secteurs d’activités de précision. Face à l’amenuisement des ressources et les besoins sans cesses croissants en produits agricoles, l’agriculture de précision qui était jusque-là réservée aux grandes firmes agro-industrielles, s’impose aujourd’hui aux plus petits producteurs. Cependant, les matériels restent, pour la plupart, conçus pour la ... N. aphing |
111. ASSESSMENT OF THE AGRONOMIC EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT PHOSPHATE AMENDMENT-BASED OF MOROCCO PHOSPHATE ROCK (PR) AND WATER SOLUBLE TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE (TSP) FERTILIZER ON RICE LOWLAND YIELD IN ACIDS SOILS OF WEST AFRICA HUMID ZONEThe purpose of this study was to test the agronomic effectiveness of different types of phosphates amendments based of Morroco phosphate rock (PR) and of triple super phosphate (TSP) on rice yield in acidic soils. Soils which pH were very low to low acidic (pH <6) were selected in three agroecological zones : Man, Gagnoa and Bouaké. The following eight treatments resulting to the combinaison of differents proportions of PR and TSP were implemented on-field before planting rice: Abso... A. Bongoua-devisme |
112. Les engrais minéraux issus du diagnostic sol améliorent la fertilité chimique et la production cacaoyère à l’Est, au Centre-Sud et au Sud-Ouest de la Côte d’IvoireUne étude sur la fertilisation minérale raisonnée a été faite sur trois ans, à l’Est (Indénié-Djuablin), au Centre-Sud (Lôh-Djiboua) et au Sud-Ouest (Nawa) de la Côte d’Ivoire afin, d’évaluer les effets de 6 formules d’engrais minéraux sur la fertilité du sol et la production cacaoyère. Ainsi, sur chaque site, le dispositif expérimental a été en bloc de ... A. Kotaix |
113. Cartographie interactive des exploitations de noix de cajou des producteurs de la coopérative COPRODIGO de GohitaflaL’agriculture a connu de profondes mutations : la spécialisation, la réduction de la main d’œuvre agricole, la mécanisation croissante. Ces dernière années, l'intégration des technologies de l'information et de la communication dans la gestion des exploitations agricoles a donné naissance à l'agriculture de précision. Ces innovations technologiques permettent de piloter et d’optimiser les p... S. Koné |
114. Discussion of Precision Agriculture for Smallholders - Eastern Time ZonesThis live discussion will consist of all the panelist on the PA for Smallholders session. Use the Q & A tools in the webinar program to pose questions to the speakers. A moderator will relay questions to the speakers. ... R. Khosla, J. Taylor, J. Crouch, T. Schut |
115. Decision Support Systems, Mobile Apps, and Sensing Technology - Discussion - Eastern Time Zones... B. Arnall, S. Baram, K. Ezui, V. Singh |
116. Mapping African soils at 30m resolution - iSDAsoil - Eastern Time Zones“iSDAsoil” combines remote sensing data and other geospatial information with carefully stratified point samples subjected to spectral analysis and traditional wet chemistry reference analysis. State of the art machine learning techniques were used to create digital maps of 17 agronomically important soil properties at 3 depths, including estimates of uncertainty. iSDAsoil is designed to encourage sharing and we hope that the owners of other soil and agronomic data, in i... C. Van beek, M. Chernet, S. Aston, M. Miller, J. Collinson, K. Shephard, J. Crouch, T. Terhoeven-urselmans |
117. Predicting of Canopy Nitrogen Content Based on UAVs and Satellites Data Fusion in Citrus OrchardsNitrogen (N) is often regarded as the most critical nutrient and the growth-limiting factor in soil for plant growth and often needs to be supplemented by N-fertilization to minimize yield loss. However, the over-application of N fertilizers may cause nutrient imbalance and contribute to groundwater contamination by nitrate (NO3-) leaching and NOx air pollution. Today the evaluation of plant nutritional status (including ... A. Dagan |
118. Public Financing in Agricultural Research Development and Rural Poverty Alleviation: Evidence from West African Economic and Monetary Union StatesThe paper examines the effects of public financing for agricultural research and development on rural poverty based on the variable farm income in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) States. To conduct this analysis, a dynamic panel comprising seven (07) WAEMU States has been built based on secondary data from World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) databases for the period 2000 to 2016. To correct the endogeneity generated ... O. Dah, T. Bassolet |
119. The effectiveness of Neem materials and biochar as nitrification inhibitors in reducing nitrate leaching in a compost-amended Ferric LuvisolNitrate produced after mineralization from compost may be prone to leaching especially in Tropical sandy soils, because of increased rate of nitrification and the porous nature of such soils. This may result in low N use efficiency and adverse environmental effects. Inorganic nitrification inhibitors are costly and mostly unavailable in Ghana. The use of simple but effective local materials as nitrification inhibitors is therefore a priority area of research. Two of such materials may be neem... H. Abeka |
120. Effect of Using Different Formulations of Fertilizers on Stomatal Conductance, Leaf Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Growth and Yield of Table Grapes Crops Grown in the Northeast of MoroccoTable grapes (Vitis vinefera) present an important crop production in Morocco. The practice of tree fertilization is based on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and micronutrients. Previous research demonstrated that using mixed fertilizers with microelements, organic matter and amino acid 4-5 times during the phonological stage improved growth and yield of different crops. The objective of a trial conducted in the region of “El GARET” on a production of ... A. Essaihe , K. Aberkani |
121. Water Application Efficiency of an Ultisol in Response to Climate Change in Two Agroecological Zones of NigeriaIrrigation and fertilizer application are management practices farmers have adopted to increase food production for the growing population. This has improved crop nutrient absorption and the efficiency of fertilizer applied to the soil. This is essential to reduce plant water stress in a climate changing environment. This study investigated and compared water application efficiency under manual sprinkler irrigation with capillary irrigation method on ultisols located in rainforest and derived... I.A. Egbebi, D.J. Oyedele, F.O. Tijani, O.E. Egbebi |
122. A Time Series Investigation to Assess Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impacts on the Degradation of Nile Delta, Egypt.Land degradation risk, status and rate in Nile Delta, Egypt were assessed for a time series using remote sensing data over the past five decades using TM, ETM and OLI. Quantitative deterioration of the area was produced based on the comparative study approach in the integrated weighted sum, weighted overlay and fuzzy model. Where degradation factors were compiled in a raster and each data set scored on a 1 to 5 (very low, low, moderate, high and very high scale). The data sets were then weigh... B. Abdellatif, M.R. Metwalli, M.M. Metwaly, M.A. Abdelrahman |
123. Remote Sensing: from Plot Towards Landscape ScalesThe agricultural research sector is working to develop new technologies and decision support tools to sustainably increase food productivity, ensure global food security and decrease poverty. Precision Agriculture (PA) and specially Remote Sensing (RS) technologies have become more affordable in recent years. Cameras have become more compact and lighter, with improved spectral and spatial resolutions. The use of incoming light sensors allows for images to be automatically calibrated to surfac... F. Rodrigues |
124. Tropical Precision Agriculture: the Brazilian ExperienceSoils with limited natural fertility and high dependence on imported fertilizers, in addition to intense natural spatial variability, are factors that made Precision Agriculture (PA) develop in Brazil. More than 20 years of academic and business experience have been accumulated, with intense consulting services with business models adapted to local conditions, involving small, medium and large rural properties. Innovations and challenges are still needed in the field of soil fertility managem... J. Molin |
125. Fighting Food, Fertilizer, and the Climate Crisis in Africa Through Targeted Nitrogen ManagementFood insecurity is a major challenge in Africa which is likely to worsen in the future unless food production in the region is substantially increased to keep up with the food demand of the increasing population. A sufficient amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is required for increasing crop yield as N helps convert solar radiation into carbohydrates that drive plant growth. However, smallholder producers in Africa use a small quantity of fertilizer N not sufficient for plant needs resul... T. Sapkota, N. Cheerakkollil konath, R. Takele, S. Snapp |
126. Field Digitization and Decision Support System (Dss) in Peach Cultivation to Manage the Mediterranean Fruitfly, Ceratitis CapitataThe Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedermann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a highly invasive, polyphagous species that attacks a wide range of fruits. In Tunisia, among the host species, peaches (Prunus persica (L.) are particularly susceptible, especially late-ripening cultivars. The risk of Medfly attack is related to various factors, such as the period of ripening during the season and the physical–chemical characteristics of the fruit. Traditionally, t... M. Braham |
127. A Suitability Approach for Land Assessment of New Reclamation Areas Using GeomaticsThe study aims to develop a system to assess land suitability for agriculture use in the Arid Western Fringes of the Nile Delta. This is based on the fact that the selection of optimal sites for agricultural use is a prerequisite for productive operation and economic feasibility. This is especially true in arid regions due to the scarcity of such suitable land. New approach was implemented to use environmental and terrestrial factors; i.e., criteria of soil characteristics, climate and salini... A.M. saleh, S.M. Arafat, M.A. Abdelrahman |
128. Lime and Phosphorus Effects on Soil Acidity and Malt Barley Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Welmera District, Central Highlands of EthiopiaIn Ethiopia, about 43% of total arable land affected by soil acidity. Furthermore, phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to increase crop yields. Efforts to ameliorate the deleterious effects of soil acidity must therefore be accompanied by measures to increase P availability in soils. Therefore, appropriate rate of lime and P fertilizer is an important strategy for improving crop growth in acidic soils. Accordingly, an experiment was undertaken to study lime and P effects on soil a... N.T. Geremew, B.B. Waraka, L.W. Mirkena |
129. Leaf-proximal Hyperspectral Data and Multivariate Modelling Approaches to Estimate Phosphorus and Potassium Content of Wheat LeavesThe assessment of plant nutrient status to provide sufficient fertilization for rapid and continuous uptake by plants has been based on visual diagnosis in the field, which is quick but demands a lot of experience and has low operability. Visible near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIS) has shown to be a quick, non-destructive, accurate, and cost-effective analytical method in precision agriculture. In this study, we assessed the potential of this technology to predict phosphorus and potassium conte... Y. El-mejjaouy, B. Dumont, P. Vermeulen, A. Oukarroum, B. Mercatoris |
130. Improving Phosphorus Use Efficiency by Chickpea Crop Using Electromagnetic Induction, Soil Properties, and Crop Yield Data Under Semi-arid ConditionsUnder arid and semi-arid conditions, the agricultural sector faces many challenges related to the use of water and mineral resources for crop production and food security for an exponentially growing population. The impact of climate changes on water resources availability and soil quality is more and more emphasized under the Mediterranean basin, mostly characterized by drought and extreme weather conditions. The present study aims to investigate how electromagnetic induction technique and s... M. Chtouki, A. Oukarroum, F. Nguyen |
131. Assessment of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content (NP) in Citrus Trees Using UAV-imagery Derived Vegetation Indices and Machine Learning AlgorithmsMonitoring nutrient status of citrus trees is fundamental to ensure optimum fruit yield and quality. However, this task is traditionally time-consuming and laborious. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), with their high temporal and spatial resolution imagery, are demonstrating a great potential to substitute traditional methods in assessing nutrient status of several crops, including citrus. In this study, we evaluated the performance of vegetation indices (VIs) derived from UAV multispectral im... Z. Abail, H. Benaouda, M. Chikhaoui, H. Benyahia, O. Iben halima, M. Baraka, A. Douaik, H. Iaaich, A. Zouahri, F. Omari |
132. From Drone to Satellite – Does It Work?Multispectral drone-sensors are useful for detailed studies of crop characteristics in field trials, e.g. to create prediction models on nitrogen (N) uptake, or even estimates of optimal N rate to apply. To enable wide application of such models, they may be applied in satellite image-based decision support systems for farmers. However, successful transfer of models based on spectral data from one platform to another, requires strong and stable correlation between data from the different sens... M. Söderström, K. Persson |
133. Leveraging Precision Agriculture Education for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture in Sub-saharan AfricaImproved agricultural productivity and access to safe and nutritious food is critical to meeting south Saharan Africa (SSA)’s growing food demand and for improving incomes for smallholders in the region. This has to be done in ways that do not compromise natural capital but secure ecosystem functions and services. With almost 60 percent of the region’s population under the age of 25, Precision Agriculture (PA) education for SSA youth is crucial. PA offers the potential to transfor... K.A. Frimpong |
134. Chlorophyll Meter Based Precision Nitrogen Management in Maize Grown in Alluvial Soil in EgyptPrecision nitrogen (N) management is essential for profitable crop production and to minimize N losses to the environment that are a consequence of an excessive N supply. Chlorophyll meter-based N management can help to achieve high N use efficiency, as aquick and non-destructive spectral characteristics of leaves, which can be used to diagnose plant N deficiency and graduate N fertilization with improve N use efficiency. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive years, 2019 and... A. Soaud, S. Abou-zeid , A. Ali, D. Hassan |
135. Engaging Stakeholders in Precision Agriculture Toolbox Conception: Case of Cowpea Atlas Platform Establishment in Benin RepublicCowpea [(Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walpers] is among the most preferred and consumed legumes in West Africa and grown by many smallholder farmers. The crop has huge potential, is easy to grow and constitute a source of income of many actors involved in different value chains. Unfortunately, despite many interventions which aimed at promoting the crop in West Africa mainly Benin, areas under cowpea crop decrease over the years along with the loss of cowpea-based products. Such problem is... N.V. Fassinou hotegni, Y.L. Godonou, L.M. Gnanglè, O.N. Coulibaly, E.G. Achigan-dako |
136. Effect of Different Combinations of N, P and K Nutrients on Growth, Yield and Fibre Quality of Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.)Cotton has high requirements for nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and the nutrients interact differently on yield and quality of this crop. This necessitates the precise combination of these nutrients to maximize yield and quality. Two cotton varieties (Bt cotton and a conventionally bred variety, HART 89M) were assessed for growth, yield and quality under different nutrient combinations in two contrasting environments in semi-arid Kenya. Nutrient combinations were NPK... E.W. Maina, E.W. Maina |
137. The Use of Precision Agriculture Tools to Monitor the Growth Performance of Pineapple in Different Soil Management SystemsPineapple production is important in Ghana as a source of food, raw material for industry and foreign exchange from export, especially to the European Union (EU) market. In Ghana, pineapple growth and yield assessment are done with field-based measurements and chemometric methods in laboratories, but, collecting primary data in this way is time-consuming, costly, and laborious. Moreover, there are few technically skilled people with specialization in rigorous laboratory methods, and inf... E. Hanyabui |
138. Modelling Fertigation and Micro-Climate Parameters for Greenhouse Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.)Amidst the hiking price of fertilizer and projected water scarcity across the world, it is imperative to explore the interaction between fertilizer, irrigation and genotype notwithstanding the micro-climate parameters so as to maximize yield while protecting the environment. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is a model which employs all these input factors to help predict yield and thereby make an informed decision. The study sort to calibrate and validate ... Y.K. Agbemabiese, P. Abubakari, P.K. Dzomeku, I. Shaibu |
139. Evolving Potentials for Precision Climate-smart Agriculture in Sub-saharan African CountriesProgressively, there is increasing awareness on the significance of agriculture in both adaptation and mitigation to climate change. While adaptation has been typically highlighted in the most vulnerable countries, especially in Africa where the failure to adapt have been noted to exacerbate the dangers of food insecurity, there is limited effort at emphasizing mitigation as the ultimate resolution of the debacle. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is critical to achieving development irrespecti... M.G. Ogunnaike, O.D. Onafeso |
140. Performance of Remote Sensing Data and Machine Learning for Wheat Disease DetectionThe use of agrochemicals has many impacts on humans’ health and generates many environmental issues. However, a suitable management of agrochemicals inputs, such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, is crucial to the success of wheat crops under climate change conditions. The use of remote sensing technologies in agriculture was raised within the technological evolution of materials and techniques during last decades. The development of new and cheap sensors has been the main re... Y. Lebrini, A. Ayerdi-gotor |
141. Optimizing Water Use Efficiency in Flood Irrigation Systems in UgandaThere is growing demand for water across different sectors of production. Yet the extent of water wastage to furnish inefficient irrigation systems especially in flood irrigated rice systems, is not known. In developing countries and in Uganda particularly, most irrigation scheduling in the irrigation schemes is based on rotational system rather than crop water needs. In Doho Rice Irrigation Scheme (DRIS) in eastern Uganda for example, farmers’ plots receive up to 50mm ponding of irriga... P. Onen, E. Opolot, G. Olupot, G. Aguttu |
142. Precision Maize Nutrition: Evidences from On-farm Experimentation of Quefts Estimated Nutrient Requirement for Variable Densities in Smallholder Farmers in EthiopiaQuantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model is an important tool for estimating optimal nutrient requirement of crops. The study was conducted to evaluate QUEFTS estimated (QE) nutrient requirement of maize in two pant densities (32,443 and 53,333 plants/ha in Central Rift Valley (CRV); 27724 and 62,000 plants/ha in Jimma) on fields of three farmers wealth classes (poor, medium and wealth) in contrasting agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. QUEFTS follows a target oriente... W.B. Kenea, T.B. Tura, A.N. Woldekristos |
143. Soil Moisture Sensing for Increased Water Use Efficiency and Crop Yields in Furrow Irrigated Systems: a Case of Mubuku Irrigation Scheme in UgandaWater and nutrient use efficiencies remain low in most of the irrigated systems in developing countries, undermining crop productivity in these areas. This is partly due to lack of precise and site-specific information to guide irrigation scheduling. In most cases information on soil properties and crop water requirements is lacking and thus irrigation scheduling is done on rotational basis whether the crop needs water or not. Consequently, the amount of water stored in soil root zone for cro... E. Opolot, D. Besigye, P. Musinguzi, I.N. Alou, T.A. Basamba, G. Olupot |
144. Sqat: a Python Package for Soil Quality AssessmentSoil quality Assessment Tool (sqat) is an open-source python programming language package for researchers to facilitate carrying out soil quality assessment. The package provides the necessary modules required for soil and terrain indicators scoring and quality indexing. The package developed using Python programming language which currently is widely used for numerical problem solving and scientific data analyses. The package developed under the open-source principal where the programming co... A. Saleh |
145. Manipulation of Row Spacing Did Not Affect Growth and Yield of Chia in Two Contrasting Environments in KenyaSustainability of agricultural production relies on a good management strategy in crop production. Optimal spacing is one of the major crop management systems in chia production required to increase yield and quality of chia seed. In this regard, this study explored the potential of different row spacing on the growth and yield of chia in Kenya. Two experiments comprising three spacing arrangements of 30 cm x 10 cm, 60 cm x 10 cm and 90 cmx 10 cm were carried out in Kabete and Nyeri in a rand... A.W. Muturi, A. Wanjiku muturi, A. Wanjiku muturi |
146. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Phenotypic Traits Estimation & Yellow Rust Disease Severity Assessment in Small-scale Wheat Breeding Trials in EthiopiaRemote Sensing (RS) platforms; like the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are recently gaining traction in agricultural data collection systems and used for various phenotyping of breeding field trials and capturing different biophysical, biochemical and sanitary traits which can be used to predict and explain the resulting yield and selecting better verities. Compared to the conventional phenotyping usually done by visual scoring and manual measurements which is time consuming/back breakings, ... T. Anberbir, G. Mamo , A. Dabi |
147. Comparative Assesement of Interpolation Techniques in Predicting Soil Properties on a Sloping Pasture Land Under Fallow in a Ferralsol in UgandaSoil variability is a major challenge in application of mineral fertilizers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Use of soil fertility maps can effectively guide the use of mineral or organic fertilizers or fertilizers. Interpolation techniques are widely used in the formulation of these fertility maps. The precision of spatial interpolation techniques for predicting unmeasured values have been reported by various researchers but there are cconflicting findings regarding the relative performance of t... J.M. Menya, P. Musinguzi, J.M. Mwanjalolo |
148. Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies in Ethiopian Agricultural ContextsIn the coming decades, world agriculture will need to under-go a major transformation to meet the future demands of a growing population. Adoption of precision agriculture by smallholder farmers is still at a nascent stage and is limited by several factors. Smallholder farmers suffer from low farm productivity and yields as well as lack of access to inputs, credit, and markets; the lack of digital infrastructure like Internet and electricity; lack of awareness and digital skills among farmers... B.Z. gebrekidan |
149. Use of Earth Observation Imagery, Advanced Modelling Algorithms and Other Monitoring Systems to Produce Operational Agricultural Annual Crop Inventories for Morocco.African farmers are facing the challenges of a changing climate, increased temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, more frequent extreme weather events and reductions in water availability. The digital transformation of the agricultural sector is one of the opportunities that can promote good practices of the African agricultural through the sharing of information and tools for decision-making, thereby, boost economic growth of our African country. The shift to digital technologies ... M. Choukri, A. Laamrani , V. simonneaux , B. Gerard , S. Belaqziz, A. Chehbouni, K. Misbah, H. Mcnairn |
150. Productivity and Profitability of Maize (Zea Mays L.) As Affected by Planting and Fertilization Schemes on the Ferralsols of Southern TogoA sustainable improvement of crop productivity and profitability in the current context of climate change and land degradation is necessary to meet the food and cash needs of a ceaselessly growing population. In order to help achieve this aim, we carried out a 2-year experiment (2020 and 2021) at the University of Lomé Agronomic Experiment Station. The experiment was set up in a split-plot design, composed of eight (08) treatments in three (03) replicates each. Two planting schemes (SC... M. Mazinagou, M.J. Sogbedji, A. N'gbendema |
151. Potentials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Nigerian AgricultureThe continuous development of technology is driving the invention of new machineries such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as “drones”. The UAVs have become much more popular within the last decade for its significant roles in agriculture among other industries, yet their applications in Nigeria are yet to be appreciated. Therefore, the present study reviewed the characteristics and multiple uses of UAVs in agriculture and their potentials for the Niger... M. Kabir, S. Ekici |
152. Precision Agriculture the Key to Increased Productivity for Smallholder FarmersThe aim of this study was to analyze the impact of precision agriculture on the farming operations of smallholder farmers in South-East Nigeria. In general, the system of farming in Nigeria lacks precision especially since it is being practised primarily by smallholder farmers and is mainly determined and analyzed using mundane, redundant, and time-consuming technology. This has resulted in uneven food production potential across the value chains. Agricultural Input waste despite its growing ... T.O. Eni |
153. Determination of Major Limiting Nutrients and Site-specific Fertilizer Recommendation Towards Optimizing Rice Production in the Irrigated Perimeter of the Zio Valley (Togo)Adoption of appropriate inorganic fertilization schemes is essential to improving fertilizer use efficiency and crop performance. This study aims to contribute to the improvement of rice yields in the irrigated perimeter of the Zio Valley in Togo through appropriate inorganic fertilization. Nutrient omission trials were set up during November 2020 to March 2021 and May to September 2021, with producers identified in the four (04) villages (Mission Tove, Ziowonou, Kovie and Assome) located in ... A. N'gbendema, M.J. Sogbedji, M. Mazinagou |
154. Rice Production System and Major Nutrients Balance Assessment in Rice Cropping in the Irrigated Perimeter of the Zio ValleyKnowledge of cropping systems and farming practices are essential towards improving crop yields. This study aims to characterize rice production systems, analyse fertilization practices and assess the impact of irrigated rice on the balance of major nutrients in Zio valley. The characterization of production systems and fertilization practices were carried out through a survey of a sample of 192 randomly selected producers, i.e. 34% of the total number of farmers in the four (4) villages of t... A. N'gbendema, M.J. Sogbedji, M. Mazinagou |
155. Integrated Packages Incorporating Reduced Tillage, Residue Retention and Cropping System Influence Green Gram Growth and YieldReduced tillage, residue retention and intercropping are factors influencing how rain fed systems of cropping are productive as well as sustainable. Green gram as well as sorghum is the main crops grown by small-scale who have insufficient resources, and the produce is used for home consumption. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate green gram crop response to reduced tillage, residue retention and intercropping with sorghum in the dry-lands environments in Kenya. The aim of the study ... B.O. Orwa |
156. Analyse De La Variabilité Spatiale Des Rendements De Maïs (Zea Mays L.) Dans Les Régions Des Savanes Et Centrale Du TogoL'agriculture de précision s'impose au Togo. Une étude a été menée dans 5 préfectures du Togo, dont 2 dans la région des Savanes (Oti et Kpendjal) et 3 dans la région Centrale (Sotouboua, Tchamba et Tchaoudjo) avec un total de 20 producteurs en 2021. d'analyser la variation spatiale du rendement en grain du maïs (variété Ikenne) au sein de chaque région sous deux pratiques de gestion agricoles inclua... M. Lare, J. Sogbedji, K. Lotsi, K. Amouzou, A. Ale gonh-goh, A. Agneroh |
157. Recommandation De Formules De Fertilisation Site-spécifique Pour La Production Du Maïs Dans La Région Des Savanes Du TogoDans le contexte actuel de la dégradation des terres agricoles et des difficultés de disponibilité et d'accès aux intrants agricoles en particulier les engrais, la maximisation de l'efficience d'utilisation des nutriments en nutrition des plantes devient plus que jamais une nécessité. Nous avons conduit en 2020 sous culture de maïs (Zea mays L.), des essais soustractifs à base de l'azote (N), du phosphore (P) et du potassiu... M. Lare, J. Sogbedji, K. Lotsi, K. Amouzou, A. Ale gonh-goh, A. Agneroh |
158. Variability in Yield Response of Maize to N, P and K Fertilization Towards Site-specific Nutrient Recommendations in Two Maize Belts in TogoLes régions de savane et du centre sont les principales zones de production de maïs au Togo, mais avec des rendements en grains de maïs à un seuil de seulement 1,5 Mg ha -1 . Nous utilisons une approche participative pour évaluer l'importance des trois principaux macro-éléments (N, P et K) pour la culture du maïs dans les deux régions afin de permettre davantage de recommandations d'engrais spécifiques au site ... J. Sogbedji, M. Lare |
159. Using Precision Technologies to Monitor the Grazing Activities of Goat in a North African WoodlandIn the north of Africa, browsing on natural pastures is the main source of feed for domestic goats. Livestock farming, particularly grazing goats, constitutes the prevalent agricultural activity in the mountainous areas of Morocco. Data on animal behavioral activities are essential for understanding their feeding and their interaction with the environment in order to define the optimal management intervention strategies. The recent development of precision farming technologies and the increas... Y. Chebli, M. Chentouf, J. Cabaraux, S. El otmani |
160. Delineation of Management Zones of Irrigation Schemes in Nigeria Based on Selected Soil PropertiesEffective field management is required to maximize economic returns and environmental control and soil and crop management. This study was conducted to delineate the management zones (MZ) of Oke-Oyi and Eiyenkorin Irrigation Schemes (EOIS) based on selected soil properties to aid efficient water and fertilizers use and enhance productivity. Soil samples were taken at goe-referenced grid-sampling points. Total soil samples collected for each location at 0 – 20 cm and 20 – 40 cm dep... A.A. Wahab, O.J. Olaniyan, E.H. Ahamefule |
161. Maximisation De L’efficience D’utilisation Des Nutriments : Recommandation De Fertilisation à La Carte Pour Le Maïs Sur Les Ferralsols Du Sud-togoL'amélioration de la nutrition des plantes à travers l'agriculture de précision devient incontournable pour l'optimisation de l'entreprise agricole et la protection de l'environnement. Nous avons conduit pendant la grande saison culturelle de 2019 et 2020, sous culture de maïs (Zea mays L.), des essais soustractifs à base de l'azote (N), du phosphore (P) et du potassium (K) à la station d'expérimentations agronomiques ... J. Sogbedji, L. William, M. Lare, A. Sekaya, K. Sika , E. Tagba |
162. Effects of Legume Break Crops on Yield, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Economy of Maize Production in Western Oromia, Ethiopia: a ReviewProlonged monocropping of maize lacking appropriate soil fertility management is affecting soil fertility and maize production in Western Oromia. The use of legume break crops improved performance of subsequent maize. The biological N2-fixation of legumes as precursor crops reduced the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to maize. Higher mean grain yield of maize was obtained following faba bean without and with rhizobia inoculation than maize after maize. The total nitrogen uptake of diffe... T.A. Goshu, T.A. Goshu, T.A. Goshu |
163. Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Barley Grown Under Organic Amendments and N Fertilizer on Acidic Soils of a Highland Tropical EnvironmentSoil nutrient depletion and low nutrient use efficiency are among pressing issues for the productivity of crops in Sub-Saharan Africa. Efficient use of nitrogen (N) for crop production in low-input subsistence farming may improve yields and quality, reduce cost and risk in case of crop failure. The effects of organic amendments and N fertilizer on the N-uptake and N-use efficiency of barley were investigated in the central Ethiopian highlands. The treatments were factorial combinations of no ... G. Agegnehu |
164. A Multi-scale Evaluation of Precision Weed Control Strategies in Corn Fields with Drone TechnologyCorn (Zea mays L.) is a worldwide priority crop, whose potential yields are closely affected by weed competence, especially in the early stages of crop development. A major concern in corn-growing areas is the occurrence of Sorghum halepense L., as this weed shows reduced sensitivity to pre-emergence herbicides and, therefore, it is necessary to use post-emergence treatments that entail an increase in cost. This research studied the impact of applying a precision weed (S... J. Peña, A. De castro |
165. The Global Crop Nutrient Removal Database (Gcnrd): Development, Initial Analysis and Identification of Current Data GapsImproved understanding of the factors affecting nutrient uptake can enable production optimization, increased nutrient use efficiencies, reduced environmental footprints, and overall higher economic returns for farmers. Crop uptake is affected by genetics, soil, weather, agronomic practices, and their interactions. As such, understanding the way crop nutrient uptake varies across different regions and production environments requires the coverage of various parameters, and necessitates collab... C. Ludemann, A. Dobermann, N. Graff, S. Sela, M. Van loon, R. Hijbeek, M. Van ittersum |
166. Utilizing Guards (Growing Universal Agronomic Research Data Standard) and the Fair Principles for Data Standardization and Agronomic InsightsThe quantity and scope of agronomic data available for researchers in both industry and academia is increasing rapidly. Data sources include a myriad of different streams, such as field experiments, sensors, climatic data, socioeconomic data or remote sensing. The lack of standards and workflows frequently leads agronomic data to be fragmented and siloed, hampering collaboration efforts within research labs, university departments, or research institutes. Researchers and businesses therefore ... S. Sela |
167. New Trends in Precision Agriculture Management: Africa PerspectiveThe ever-increasing human population in Africa demands a corresponding increase in food and fiber production. Although Africa has the 12th highest population growth rates in the world which may double by 2050, food productivity in the region has remained low. A critical challenge facing crop production in Africa is low awareness of precision agriculture (PA) and low soil fertility in many agroecosystems. Available studies show that digital technology is transforming the agricultural sect... V. Aduramigba-modupe |
168. Fine-tuning Specialty Fertilization Strategies to Local Wheat Production Through On-farm Experimentation in NigeriaWheat specialty fertilizer validation trial was conducted in 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State, Nigeria on farmers field. The specialty fertilizer validation project is implemented to improve the productivity and profitability of small-scale wheat smallholder farmers. Four treatments - absolute control (AC), local control (LC), OCP1 and OCP2 were replicated four times in a RCBD on a plot of 25m2. The AC was based on the indigenous nutrient supply from the soil (no appli... V. Aduramigba-modupe, J.M. Jibrin, . Olabanji, B. Lawan, D. Madukwe |
169. Farmers’ Perception and Willingness to Adopt Drone Technology in AgricultureThe application of drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in agriculture has led to a paradigm shift in farming practices by reducing production costs and increasing operational efficiency and profitability. However, there is a lack of empirical reports on the efficiency and profitability of UAV application to agriculture in Nigeria, limiting the contribution of Nigerian agriculture to the global scientific discourse on drone technology and advancement. This study investigates farmers&rsquo... F.J. Adekoya, S.O. Jimoh, O.A. Ogunsola, T.A. Azeez, R.O. Aminu |
170. A Synopsis of Water and Nutrient Requirements of Hass Avocado for Uganda and Sub-saharan Africa PractitionersHass avocado production is increasing in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to tap into the lucrative market especially in Western Europe, China, Japan, and Russia. However, there is limited information about its water and nutrient requirements in end-user-friendly formats especially in Uganda and SSA. We consolidated the scanty information about water and nutrient requirements of Hass avocado and made necessary recalculations and unit conversions to aid meaningful uptake of the information ... P.C. Odong, G. Olupot, T.L. Odong, A. Mwije, P. Musinguzi, I.N. Alou, T.A. Basamba, P. Ebanyat, E. Opolot |
171. Virtual Agronomist - Getting Soil Information and Agronomic Advice into Farmers’ HandsPrecision agronomic advice tailored to individual farm field characteristics and farmer circumstances is currently unavailable to smallholder farmers in Africa. Virtual Agronomist aims to fill this gap by providing scalable agronomic advisory for African agribusinesses working with smallholder farmers. This is a scientifically based mobile phone app that is simple enough to be used with minimal training by field agents. It is designed to help farmers better meet their production and profit ob... K. Shepherd |
172. Precision Farming and Automation in Africa: Challenges and OpportunitiesDigitalization, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation are currently driving a new revolution towards precision farming (PF) and Agriculture 4.0. This will contribute to enhanced sustainability and agroecological advances through optimal use of soil, water, agricultural inputs, as well as pest and weed control, providing accurate decision support systems to farmers. PF is gradually transforming agricultural landscape by supporting farmers with optimized management of inputs and reso... R. Serraj |
173. Driving Up Large Scale Irrigated Wheat Yields Through Variable Rate P & K Fertilizer Recommendations in ZambiaSoil types and how these change across a field/farm are the main drivers of yield. Through the surveying of the fields and their subsequent subdivision (virtual) into homogenous zones, Cropnuts has been able to carry out yearly soil sampling within each zone and generate soil correction plans to target the needs of each individual zone rather than applying blanket recommendations. This has led to improved fertilizer efficiency and has had a massive impact on yields of our clients. ... J. Parigiani |
174. Harnessing Soil Health to Create More Restorative and Resilient Food Systems in the Central Highlands Eco-Region FoodscapeThe relationships among soil health and adoption of regenerative practices, crop productivity, human nutrition and farm profitability are intricate and poorly understood, particularly in the Central Highlands of Kenya. There is a need for a deeper understanding of how soil health is affected by the profitability of preferred value chains among smallholders in this ecoregion. The Central Highlands Ecoregion Foodscape, or the CHEF, which is within the Upper Tana River Basin is centered around f... R. Sitienei |
175. Overview of Precision Agriculture Education in North AmericaDr. Fulton will present about current educational degree programs and courses being taught in North America on precision and digital agriculture. He will also note feedback from industry on precision agriculture educational needs and where universities are heading with their PA programs. ... J. Fulton |
176. Precision Ag Education Panel... J. Fulton, J. Molin, K. Frimpong, A. Dagan |
177. Decentralized Research: an Opportunity to Accelerate the Transition Towards Sustainable Food ProductionThe large majority of farmers experiment on their farms to invent and/or adopt new crop production techniques and technologies. This endogenous experimentation process is slow because it often resembles trial and error and relies on minimal data (e.g., comparing total yield between two fields) to draw conclusions. Digital agronomy can help enhance the scientific value of these experiments and thus enable systematic progress toward working solutions. This presentation will discuss the use... L. Longchamps |
178. How 20 Years of Precision Agriculture Experience Can Benefit Small LandholdersMost people think only larger farms can benefit from incorporating precision agriculture technologies, when the bigger impact happens with smaller farms. A ten percent increase in crop yield is much more impactful for small land holders for various reasons based upon 20 years’ experience, research, and personal utilization. Incorporating remote sensing, drones, small autonomous robots, and other technologies and practices can help small holders increase yield, crop quality, and free up ... R. Blair |
179. On-Farm Experimentation Panel... L. Longchamps, I. Adolwa, J. Taylor, D. Gathumbi |
180. Global Renewal and Future of On-farm ExperimentationExperimenting on farm with farmers is gaining momentum as a choice instrument to contribute to addressing global challenges. This presentation will show how the complex histories of field experiments and participatory research are leading toward OFE solutions that are both evidence-based and farmer-centric. Varied communities thread these collaborative innovation pathways, among which those of Precision Agriculture occupy a key position for their ability to leverage scientific rigor, agronomy... M. Lacoste |
181. The Role of Smart-Advisory Services in Climate-resilient AgricultureCrop management is strongly influenced by changes in weather and climate, therefore strengthening resilience and environmental sustainability will require robust advisory services that can support farmers’ decisions. Crop production adaptations to weather, climate variability, and change will need combined efforts from farmers, academia, industry, and government to co-develop solutions, train future workforce not only to advise the farming community but also develop solutions and also e... B. Ortiz |
182. Decision-Making Tools in Soil Management and Plant Nutrition On-Farm Research and Observation Plot: Between Reality and ChallengesIn this presentation, we will address a number of decision-making tools and assess their relevance and limitations for the Mediterranean and Tunisia's agricultural conditions. Decision-making tools can be classified, based on the scale, to different levels, ranging from national and regional scale to farm scale. On a large scale, an agricultural policy can be drawn based on the governmental agricultural plans, and soil maps can be adopted as a decision-making tool and thus guide support i... M. Mechri |
183. Building Soil Health with Precision Agriculture Panel... J. Wendt, J. Kihara, R. Njoroge |
184. Precision Agriculture in Africa; the Youth Are ReadyPrecision Agriculture holds enormous potential for Africa’s food security and socio-economic development. With the evolvement of the global agricultural systems and the growing emergence of the Fourth Agricultural Revolution (Agric 4.0), Africa is presented with a huge opportunity to leverage precision agriculture to meet its growing population demands in a sustainable environment. Of course, the growth of precision agriculture practices and tools is not without its challenges. However,... F. Adekoya |
185. Prediction of Gryllotalpa Gryllotalpa (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) Infection on Potato Crop by Using Hyper Spectral Remotely Sensed DataDetection of crop stress is one of the main applications of hyperspectral remote sensing in agriculture. Many studies have demonstrated the capability of remote sensing techniques for detection of pathogen stress on potato plant with only few on pest damage. But none so far on the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa severity. This pest is one of the insect species causing huge damage to potato production and export sector in Egypt. Thus, this study aimed to determine the... M. Aboelghar |
186. Smart or Precision Agriculture Technology to Mitigate Climate Change for Sustainable Agriculture DevelopmentAgriculture is one of the economic sectors that affect climate change contributing to Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions directly and indirectly.The main goal of the Precision Agriculture (PA) or Smart Agriculture (SA), hypothesize that the increase in crop production and hence food security can be achieved by enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the presently cultivated soils and reclamation of new lands for crop production. Agriculture remains to be one of Egypt’s most important s... A. Belal |
187. Crops Water Consumption Signature for Wheat Water Productivity Based on Integrated Satellite DataA lack of precipitation and limited irrigation water sources hampers agricultural expansion plans and strategies. Concerns have also been raised about increasing wheat production to meet local demand. The challenge is to increase grain production while using less irrigation water. Researchers at the El-Salhia agricultural project in the eastern Nile delta investigated wheat water productivity by detecting the sensitivity of wheat production to water consumption using remotely sensed data. ETa... M. Ahmed el-shirbeny |
188. Proximal Soil Sensing Combined with Machine Learning for Estimation and Management of Soil Potassium Site SpecificallyHigh-resolution data on soil potassium (K) is crucial to optimize variable rate potassium fertiliser recommendations and improve crop growth and yield. The portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) and portable gamma-ray spectroscopy (PGRS) enable onsite soil K analysis. However, using PXRF and PGRS often remains cumbersome, following the soil matrix's poor performance and complex nature, introducing background noise. The potential of spectral analysis based on machine learning (ML) combined wit... S. Nawar |
189. An Innovation System for Improving Crop Potato ManagementSmart systems in agriculture has become imperative to overcome future challenges such as population growth and the consequent increase in food demand and the food gap. At the end of 2019, challenges increased, and production almost stopped all over the world due to the Corona pandemic, which posed a great threat to the world's governments to face these challenges for the continuation of life. Hence, smart agriculture has become ideal solutions in the agricultural sector for the continuati... E. Mohamed |
190. Smart Agriculture As a Tool to Face Climate Change Negative Impacts on Egyptian AgricultureIt is well known and frequently reported that the developing countries are not responsible on most of the greenhouse gas emissions, while the industrial countries are. In the meanwhile, climate change impact is reported to be more severe on the south latitudes than on the north. The impact of climate change on agriculture south of Mediterranean are: Increase in temperature that affect plant growth and planting dates of crops Increased temperature will increa... A. Abouhadid |
191. Phosphorus, a Key Nutrient for a Sustainable AgricultureIn the presentation I will discuss about the dichotomy regarding P between the northern (temperate conditions) and southern (tropical conditions) realities. I will bring the case of Brazil and how the correct management of P was important for the development of its agriculture. At the end, I will close talking about how we need to shift our focus towards improving P use efficiency to solve our issues (both where it is lacking and where it is in excess) and the way to achieve it. ... L. Vergutz |
192. Precision Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation of Food Systems in Africa... A. Bouraqqadi |
193. 4Rs As an Entry Point for Precision Agriculture in Smallholder Farming Systems of AfricaThis presentation will showcase how adoption of the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship (Applying nutrients from the Right Source, at the Right Rate, at the Right Time, and in the Right Place) provides a feasible entry point for the integration of Precision Agriculture in Smallholder Farming Systems of Africa. ... S. Njoroge |
194. Together, Let's Make Africa the Epicenter of a Sustainable Transformation of Food Systems... P. Bwire |
195. GNSS and SBAS Technologies for Precision Agriculture in AfricaThis presentation will highlight the various applications in the Agriculture sectors, their performance requirements, and the relevant Global Navigation Satellite System technologies (GNSS) that can meet these requirements. It will focus specifically on Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and Europe’s Galileo High Accuracy Service as upcoming systems in Africa that the Agriculture user communities are encouraged to leverage. ... A. Kobusinge |
196. Improving Lime and Fertiliser Recommendations for Smallholders Using Co-variate Zoning and Low Cost Mir Soil Testing TechnologySmall-holder farmers lack for them affordable access to crop and field specific lime and fertilisation advice. Another challenge is that while crop and region specific fertiliser blends could be produced, high resolution, unbiased and up to date soil information is lacking and thus crop and region specific blends are not produced. As a result, the farmers are left with a small number of available compound and fertiliser blends that often do not match the crop needs. This is not a convincing s... T. Terhoeven-urselmans |
197. Presentation from Otini Mpinganjira... O. Mpinganjira |
198. Scalling Ag Technologies to Unlock Value for Agriculture in Africa - Insights from UM6P-al Moutmir Case in MoroccoCompletely aligned with the mission of Africa Ag conference to “connect the science and practice needed to put precision agriculture in action for Africa”, UM6P, through its farming development initiative Al Moutmir in Morocco, works hand in hand with all the Ag players to scale innovative solutions to unlock Africa value through responsible technologies. We believe African agriculture is at a transformational moment in its history and a time of incredible po... N. Roudies |
199. Farmer-led Approaches to Digital InnovationDigital agricultural innovation has significant potential to transform the ability of smallholder farmers to engage with and benefit fro precision agriculture. Despite this, the benefits of digital agricultural technologies remain largely inaccessible to most of these smallholder farmers. This presentation will share updates and lessons learnt from Producers Direct’s experiences in designing and scaling farmer-led approaches to digital agricultural innovation. ... C. Rhodes |
200. Agricultural Data Market to Empower African FarmersBy transforming the agricultural data into agronomic advices by using AI model, farmer can get a strong tool to help them making the right decision in the right time. Decision about the quantity and the quality of fertilizer to apply, the quantity and the timing of the irrigation,… Also he can get valuable information about yield prediction, phytosanitary risk. All of this information can help famers reducing its operational cost by up to 30%. To develop robust AI model,... F. Sehbaoui |
201. IA Algorithm for Plant Counting: Palm Oil Trees ExampleCounting and estimating plants can sometimes be a real challenge. In this presentation we will see a concrete example of the application of UAV imagery and AI applied to palm cultivation in order to count the plants on a given area. ... A. Karim |
202. Presentation from ML Jat... M. Jat |
203. Post-Harvest Assessments of On-Farm Maize ExperimentationThe completion of the most recent maize-growing seasons in northern Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya (western and eastern regions) provided a first opportunity for farmers to share assessments from their participation in a new on-farm research initiative for sub-Saharan Africa called NUTCAT - meaning Nutrient-Catalyzed Agricultural Transformation. ... I. Adolwa |
204. Plenary 1 Discussion... S. Njoroge, J. Parigiani, A. Dagan, K. Shephard |
205. Implementing Field-Based High Throughput Plant Phenotyping: The Open Source Way... Y. Kassim |
206. Irrigation Regimes and Mulching Effect on Fruit Yield and Water Stress Index of Tomato (Solannum Lycopersicum L.) Varieties in the Guinea Savannah Agroecology of Ghana... R. Adombilla |
207. Rhizobial Symbionts of Kersting's Groundnut: Insights into Their Biodiversity in African Soils and Potential Utilization As Inoculants in Sustainable Agriculture... M. Mohammed |
208. Spatial-Temporal Assessment of Drought in the Northern Region, Ghana... B. Asante |
209. Enhancing Crop Yield in Smallholder Farming Systems of Northern Ghana: The Role of 4R Nutrient Stewardship... A. Haruna |
210. Presentation by Abdullahi Jaji Ibrahim... A. Ibrahim |
211. Impact of Organic Soil Amendments on Fungal Population and Germination of Maize Seeds in Lead Contaminated Soil... A. Aduramigba-modupe |
212. Estimating Maize Evapotranspiration in Smallholder Farms Using UAV-derived Data and Surface Energy Balance Modelling Techniques... A. Nyawose |
213. Detecting the Impact of Hail Damage on Maize Crops in Smallholder Farms Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Derived Multispectral DataNatural disasters such as hailstorms are now frequent and negatively impact smallholder farmers' livelihoods. In these events, there is a need for robust and innovative techniques for monitoring the extent of their damage in smallholder croplands to optimise production. In this regard, this study sought to evaluate the utility of drone-derived multispectral data in estimating crop health elements (i.e., equivalent water thickness (EWT), chlorophyll content, and leaf area index (LAI) of ma... M. Sibanda |
214. Application of Remote Sensing Technologies for Monitoring within Field Soil and Crop Growth Variability... N. Majozi |
215. A Comparative Estimation of Maize Leaf Moisture Content on Smallholder Farming Systems Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Based Proximal Remote SensingUnderstanding maize moisture conditions is necessary for crop monitoring and developing early warning systems to optimise agricultural production in smallholder farms. Therefore, this study evaluated the utility of UAV derived multispectral imagery and machine learning techniques in estimating maize leaf moisture indicators; equivalent water thickness (EWT), fuel moisture content (FMC) and specific leaf area (SLA). The results illustrated that both NIR and red-edge derived spectral variables ... S. Ndlovu |
216. The Future of Farming: Bringing Biophotonics and Machine Learning to Revolutionize AgricultureThe future of farming is set to be revolutionized by biophotonics and machine learning. Biophotonics is the study of the interaction of light and living matter, and machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence that allows computers to learn from data. Together, these two technologies will allow for more precise and efficient farming, as well as greater yields and less wastage. Biophotonics will allow for more precise targeting of crops with pesticides and herbicides, as well as more ... S. Ndlovu |
217. Welcome from Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi... T. Mabhaudhi |
218. Soil-Microbe Interaction for Sustainable Soil Health ManagementThe soil-Microbe relationship has a unique way of influencing rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere ecosystems. The study was conducted in 14 communities of Savanna Ecology. The experiment aimed to identify some biological and chemical activities and relate them to the soil's health status in the ecological zone. The soils were of Basement and Sedimentary geological formations. There were varied ranges of enzyme activities in the soil samples at different locations. Amylase activity ranged betw... E. Ezaka, A. Oyedele |
219. A Call for Action: Implementing the African Certified Agronomy Advisory ProgramAgriculture remains the backbone of many African economies, providing livelihoods for millions while addressing food security concerns. However, productivity in the sector often lags due to various challenges, including limited access to modern agronomic practices and advisory services. In response to the pressing need for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability in African countries, it is imparative to establish a standardized extension training program at the continental leve... C. Engoke, S. Zingore, I. Adolwa, S. Njoroge, K. Majumdar, J. Mutegi, E. Mugi, |
220. Suitability Assessment of Small-Scale Dam Sites Using Geospatial Analysis for Irrigation Agriculture in North-Eastern NigeriaIrrigation agriculture has been seen as panacea to the problem of food production in drought prone area in Northern Nigeria. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) recommendaded modest dam sites for rural populace for sustainable agricultural production. The need to increase food production for the growing population and prevent water from been limiting factor call for assessment of more suitable Dam site for irrigation agriculture. This study aimed to use geospatia... J. Ibrahim |
221. The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Remotely Sensed Data and Biophysical Variables to Predict Maize Above-Ground Biomass (AGB) in Small-Scale Farming SystemsConsidering the current and projected increase in human population, approaches to optimize crop productivity to meet the rising demand are paramount. Timely and accurate maize Above Ground Biomass (AGB) measurements allow for development of models that can precisely predict yield prior to harvesting, useful for food production management and sustenance. The development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a new generation of robust remote sensing platforms, mounted with high-resolution senso... C. Dlamini, J. Odindi, O. Mutanga, T. Matongera |
222. Evaluating Soil Organic Matter Under a No-Till System Using Digital Sensors (EM38 and MSP3)Agriculture, especially in no-till systems, plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. The pressure on agricultural lands due to a growing population and climate change necessitates innovative solutions. Proximal soil sensing using electromagnetic induction (EMI) and electrical conductivity (ECa) sensors has gained prominence. These technologies provide rapid, non-destructive measurements of soil properties, offering advantages over remote sensing and laboratory analyses... H. Hajjaj, K. Ibno namr, E. Abdellah , C. El khalfi |
223. Enhancing the Estimation of Equivalent Water Thickness in Neglected and Underutilized Taro Crops Using UAV Acquired Multispectral Thermal Image Data and Index-Based Image SegmentationDue to the impact of climate variability and change, smallholder farmers are increasingly faced with the challenge of sustaining crop production. Taro, recognized as a future smart neglected and underutilized crop due to its resilience to abiotic stresses, has emerged as valuable for diversifying crop farming systems and sustaining local livelihoods. Nonetheless, a significant research gap exists in spatially explicit information on the water status of taro, contributing to the paradox of its... S. Ndlovu, J. Odindi, M. Sibanda, O. Mutanga |
224. Modeling of the Optimal Parameters, Improvement and Performance Evaluation of Marc Engine Driven Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Thresher in EthiopiaThis executive summary provides an overview of the research study conducted on modeling the optimal parameters, improvement, and performance evaluation of the engine-driven bean thresher developed by the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC) in Ethiopia. The study aimed to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the bean thresher, contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, promote technology adoption, and support the economic development of the agricultural sector. The re... B. Zewdie gebrekidan |
225. The Level of Competition Between Cocoa Trees Depends on the Average Diameter of the Trees and Their Genetic OriginCompetition between trees in cocoa production remains a little studied area. The origin of this phenomenon, which has a strong impact on varietal selection, is often unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the factors of intraspecific competition on cocoa populations used in Côte d'Ivoire. The study was conducted in two cocoa plots monitored for 13 years for crown diameter and production. Each plot consisted of one population and three control families common to bo... I. Trebissou, B. Guiraud, E. Assi, G.M. Tahi |
226. Remote Monitoring of ICT Components for Automatic Orchard Irrigation SystemMonitoring the orchard irrigation system is a crucial way to manage field water usage for crop growth and yield enhancement. Integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into agriculture has become a cutting-edge novel approach to modernizing irrigation operations through continuous assessment of soil water content spatiality, crop health, and environmental variability. The aim of this study was to design and fabricate a sensor-based automatic irrigation system for assessing the... H. Eliezel, M. Reza, E. Bicamumakuba, S. Ahmed, H. Kim, S. Chung |
227. Precision Water Management Strategies for AfricaThe goal of precision irrigation is to produce more crop per drop of irrigation water used by applying new decision support tools (DSTs) that take advantage of emerging technologies. This presentation will focus on how precision irrigation can be applied under a variety of African conditions to leapfrog the standard approaches currently used for irrigation scheduling. Potential solutions include using smartphone applications that utilize publicly available real-time data to delive... G. Vellidis |
228. Comparative Assessment of Landuse Landcover Changes on Water Quality of River Kaduna from 2012-2020 at Wuya, Niger State, NigeriaThe study investigates the effects of land use land cover changes on water quality of River Kaduna from 2012-2020 at Wuya, Niger state, Nigeria using Landsat 7 imagery. Five classes of LULC types where selected and used as basis for classification. Also five (5) sampling stations selected on the water body for water quality analysis which were collected once monthly for a period of six months from February 2020 to July 2020. The results of LULC classification depicts an increase in water body... I. Saratu usman, F. Yusufu |
229. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Disease Assessment and High Throughput Field Phenotyping of Wheat Breeding Trials in Ethiopia: Towards Precision AgricultureConventional plant Phenotyping are usually done by visual scoring and manual measurements which is time consuming, susceptible to human error and labor intensive. To address these challenge, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming practically applicable for various phenotyping of breeding trials and capturing different traits. With High Throughput Phenotyping (HTP), plant breeding programs can expect to see an improvement in speed, accuracy and efficiency, and potentially reduced costs. ... G. Diga, T. Anberbir |
230. Downward Trend in Rainfall in Divo (Central-West Ivory Coast), One of the Main Cocoa Production AreasCocoa farming has developed in Ivory Coast in several different agro-pedo-climatic zones, of which the Center-West represents one of the main ones. Climate changes on a global scale have led to disruptions in rainfall at a local level, thus affecting agricultural activities. This present work aims to analyze the evolution of rainfall in relation to the climatic requirements of the cocoa tree. The study focused on analyzing the evolution and distribution of rainfall over the three decades of t... E. Assi, J.A. Kotaix, K. Stanislas, B. Guiraud, P.W. N'guessan , I. Trebissou |
231. The Value and Potential of On-Farm Experimentation to Catalyze Agricultural TransformationOn-farm experimentation (OFE), which inculcates farmers’ agency in knowledge discovery, has the potential to support and accelerate transformative agronomy at scale. The OFE process within the Nutrient-Catalyzed Agricultural Transformation in Africa (NUTCAT) project, encompasses farmer engagements, set-up of simple, easy-to-understand treatment designs, and contextual analysis of the data to enhance the relevance of the results to farmers. Ultimately, it is envisaged that this process w... I. Adolwa, J. Muthamia, C. Lutomia, , S. Cook |
232. Assessment of Nitrogen Fertilization in Tunisian Wheat Production Using Proximal and Remote SensingThe cereal sector in Tunisia covers wide areas in the country from sub-humid to semi-arid zones; most of the fields are rainfed. The sector is suffering from climate change impacts in term of rainfall amount and pattern. Water management policy in the country prioritizes allocating surface water to domestic uses than irrigation. On the other hand irrigation using groundwater (e.g. in Kairouan) continue to over use the water table with an average drawdown of 5 m/year. Because of this, low effi... M. Mechri, O. Alshihabi, H. Angar, I. Nouiri, M. Landolsi, M. Söderström, K. Persson, S. Phillips |
233. Monitoring Grazing Goats' Behavior Using Sensors and Satellite Remote SensingThe recent development of new methods for remotely observing animal behavior using electronic sensors such as global positioning systems (GPS) and three-axis accelerometers to monitor and record behavior at different spatial and temporal scales presents real opportunities for better understanding and interpreting the behaviors of grazing animals. The goal of this study was to distinguish different behavioral categories of grazing goats by combining GPS collars, accelerometers, and satellite r... Y. Chebli, S. El otmani, J. Cabaraux, M. Chentouf , A. Keli, F. Elame |
234. Ecosystem Services, Land Use Change, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from an East African Rift Valley Wetland, Cheleleka Wetland, EthiopiaWater tower systems are prevalent in East Africa and are important to water supply in lowland systems (Wamucii et al., 2021). The release of the water by these towers contribute to the survival of the wetlands located on the lowlands of these mountains (EAC et al., 2016). This results to the maintenance of important ecosystem services in wetlands such as provisioning and regulating services. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) in both upstream catchments and in the wetlands themselves, threaten wetlan... S. Ongaya |
235. Factors Influencing Farmers’ Decisions on Timing and Application Rates of Irrigation Water in Semi-Arid Regions: A Case-Study of Mwala, Machakos County, KenyaThis study investigates the factors influencing farmers’ decisions on water application in arid and semi-arid regions, where water shortages are prevalent due to low and unreliable rainfall. The research involved interviewing 41 farmers registered under the Equity Group Foundation extension scheme, focusing on their irrigation scheduling techniques, timing, application rates, and other factors such as plant and soil conditions. The study also involved laboratory analysis of soil samples... D. Mongína, C.K. Gachene, G. Kironchi |
236. Assessment of Access to and Utilisation of Treadle and Hip Pump Technology by Farmers in Machakos County, KenyaMany climate-innovative agriculture practices can be used for climate mitigation and adaptation since farmers already feel the effects of climate change in their agricultural production. The broad range of climate-smart agriculture technologies requires a gender-responsive assessment in design and dissemination to enable access and utilization among its intended users. Women and youth farmers in developing countries have always been disadvantaged in access and utilization of agriculture techn... T. Gitau |
237. High Resolution Mapping of Long-Term Soil Organic Carbon Stocks and Changes in MoroccoSoil organic carbon (SOC) as a major part of the soil organic matter (SOM) is important for soil productivity stability and climate change mitigation. Current regional SOC maps are not detailed enough and thus, do not support decision-making at farm and landscape and do not track carbon long-term changes. Using large soil dataset, multispectral satellite data, climate data and machine learning , we created a high-resolution topsoil (0-30cm) map of Morocco and estimated t... B. Gerrard, E. Ben-dor, M. Bayad |
238. The Nairobi Fertilizer Declaration - How Realistic is It and How Can Africa Achieve Its Fertilizer Production and Consumption Goals?Fertilizers are critical to food production and soil health. And the recent Nairobi Fertilizer declaration targets a tripling of local production of fertilizers using raw materials in an effort to cut dependency on imported fertilizers in the wake of currency fluctuations, global fertilizer prices (Africa is a price taker in the global market) and geopolitical shocks to supply routes. But how realistic is this target? Where does Africa stand currently in terms of production and cons... M. Nash |
239. Applying Digital Agro-Advisory Services Towards Transforming the Management of Soil Fertility & Fertilizers in the Ethiopian AgricultureEffective utilization of fertilizers in 4R principles has an important role for the transformation of the agricultural field and the overall development of the economy of Ethiopia. Identifying deficient soil nutrients that are bottleneck to the productivity of crops and determining the rate of each nutrient required by crops are the primary steps of the principles. Using fertilizer in accordance with the 4R principles (right type, right amount, right time and right placement of fertilizers) a... B. Woldetsadik, , T. Desalegn |
240. Effects of Adopting Fertilizer Management Practices on Yield in Maize-Based Systems of Embu County: an Instrumental Variable Regression ApproachFertilizers play an important role in maize production and global food security, contributing significantly to yield increases. However, continuous rise in fertilizer prices has resulted in inflated costs, leading to unaffordability and suboptimal utilization. Inefficient use by farmers has hindered yield potential and increased environmental risks. Additionally, farmers' limited knowledge and awareness of optimal nutrient requirements, timing, application rates, and placement techn... M. Gitau, R.A. Nyikal, , O. Kitonyo |
241. Assessment of Soil Fertility Status As a Strategy for Precision Nutrient Management of Haydom Lutheran Hospital Farms in Manyara Region, TanzaniaSoil test-based fertility management is important for sustainable soil management. This study was carried out to determine the soil fertility status of the four Haydom Lutheran Hospital farms in Mbulu and Hanang, Tanzania. Using soil sampling auger, 120 soil samples were collected randomly from a depth of 0-20 cm. Soil sampling points were recorded using GPS device. Soil physical characteristics like texture and colour observed in the field. Following standard methods adopted by AfSIS-BART, N... R. Temba |
242. Better Late Than Never: Precision Agricultural Techniques for Pest Management Among Smallholder Farmers in Sub-Saharan AfricaPrecision agriculture (PA) is a revolutionary approach to farming that leverages technology for resource use efficiency in agricultural production. Precision pest control (PPC) involves the use of PA technologies and strategies for monitoring, prevention, avoidance, and suppression of pests such as insects and diseases that are directly or indirectly disrupting the agricultural production processes. Precision pest management relies on data from sophisticated tools s... M. Timothy, B.O. Daramola |
243. Sustainability of Maize Production with Farmers’ Practices and Redesigned Crop Management Practices in CRV and Jimma of EthiopiaMulti-criteria assessment of crop management practices is vital for sustainable crop production and environmental safety. In this study, sustainability of maize production with farmer’s practice (FP), redesigned plant density plus current fertilizer use (RDCF), current plant density plus redesigned fertilizer use (CDRF), and redesigned plant density and redesigned fertilizer use (RDRF) were assessed at farm level based on social, agronomic, economic and environmental principles in Centr... W. Kenea, A.N. Woldekristos, T. Balemi |
244. Development and Validation of an Algorithm for Optical Sensor-based Nitrogen Fertilization for Durum Wheat in Central Ethiopia I. Algorithm DevelopmentMonitoring in-season nitrogen (N) management using proximal optical sensors is often considered highly cost-effective and efficient. Developing a successful sensor-based algorithm to optimize in-season N application for durum wheat could enhance productivity and nitrogen use efficiency. This study aimed to develop and validate a sensor-based algorithm for N fertilization of durum wheat in central Ethiopia. The developed algorithm is based on the prediction of total N uptake from normalized di... S. Endris, T. Mesfin, O. Atnafu, S. Tamiru |
245. Optimizing Durum Wheat Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) Prediction Through Sentinel-2 Vegetation Index IntegrationNitrogen is crucial for durum wheat growth and productivity, but excess or insufficient levels can harm both the environment and farmers' finances. Remote sensing offers rapid, cost-effective, and nondestructive ways to assess crop nutrition, with vegetation indices (VIs) indicating plant health. This study aims to enhance the accuracy of durum wheat nitrogen status prediction by investigating modified formulations of Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) coupled with various vegetation indices ... N. Boughattas, K. Marwa, Z. Mohamed, A. Sawsen, A. Soumaya, H. Hafedh, H. Imen, T. Youssef |
246. Empower Farmers to Sustainably Agricultural Productivity in West Africa: FeSeRWAM, a Digital Advisor for FarmersMany smallholder farmers in West Africa have a common challenge which is their inability to access the right information on appropriate agricultural inputs and practices to unlock existing potential, make better decisions and get more dividends on their investments. Supported by USAID, Feed the Future "Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems (EnGRAIS/IFDC) and Partnership for Agricultural Research, Education and Development (PAIRED) have developed and deployed a... J. Toviho, I.E. Brou, K. Kouassi |
247. The Development of a Geo-Integrated Pest Management System (Geo-IPM) for the Monitoring of Cereal Diseases in AlgeriaAlgeria's agricultural sector plays a vital role in its economy, with cereal production standing as a cornerstone. However, the industry faces persistent challenges, particularly in optimizing yields and combating fungal diseases that threaten cereal crops. Our research endeavors to introduce a Geo-Integrated Pest Management System (Geo-IPM) as a Decision Support System (DSS). This system seamlessly integrates Earth Observation data with an IPM strategy, creating a robust tool applicable ... S. Lamine, A. Kayad |
248. Capacity Building of African Young Scientists in Precision Agriculture Through Cross Regional Academic MobilityClimate change is one of the main problems affecting food and nutrition globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Adapting to and/or mitigating climate change in the agri-food sector requires merging information technologies, genetic innovations, and sustainable farming practices to empower the agricultural youth sector to create effective and locally adapted solutions. Precision Agriculture applied to crops (PAAC), has been advocated as a strategic solution to mitigate/adapt agriculture ... K. Frimpong, V. Fassinou hotegni, A. Karangwa, A. Manyatsi, M. Amri, D. Cammarano, C. Lesueur, J. Taylor, S. Phillips, E.G. Achigan-dako, G. Houessou, O. Linkpon, D. Tchokponhoué, C. Houdegbe, C. Adje |
249. Diverse Soil Physicochemical Properties and Digital Mapping in the West Nile Delta, Egypt: Supporting Site-Specific Management PracticesThis study aimed to generate a digital soil map (DSM) using various freely available digital elevation models (DEMs) with different spatial resolutions (30 m ALOS, 12.5 m ALOS, 30 m SRTM, and 90 m SRTM) to assess the spatial variability of soil physio-chemical characteristics in El-Beheira Province, Western Nile Delta. A total of 196 geo-referenced soil profiles (495 soil samples) were collected from agricultural fields, and the soil's contents of total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorou... M.M. Metwaly, M. Abdelrahman |
250. Improving Irrigation Water Management Through Water Monitoring, Learning and Governance.Irriigation is the leasing solution to climate change and population gowth challenges to achieve food and nutrition security. Nevertheless, there is lack of information for connecting the interests of irrigation scheme clients (farmers, scheme managers, researchers, investors and governments) and also lack of accountability system for tracking the productive use and governance of water for irrigation within irrigation schemes in Malawi. The ACIAR funde... I. Fandika, J. Chikankheni, H. Kumwenda, H. Kakhiwa, G. Chipula, G. Mwepa |
251. Inter-Country Cooperation Can Transform Precision Agriculture Education and Research in AfricaThere is a significant potential to transform the productivity and profitability of African agricultural systems through integration of precision agriculture technologies and practices. Implementing smart agriculture solutions in Africa, both in terms of policies and program design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation requires cooperation among the African nations. Inter-country cooperation will enable leveraging the available good and diverse capacities for develop... K. Frimpong, V. Aduramigba-modupe, V. Fassinou hotegni, M. Mechri |
252. Precision Morphological Characterisation of the Core Trial of the Cocoasoils Project in CameroonAs part of the CocoaSoils project, the aim of which is to disseminate integrated soil fertility management under cocoa trees, a basic trial was set up in the locality of Mbalmayo in the tropical rainforest of Cameroon, with the aim of studying the response of young cocoa plants to mineral fertilisation. The basic trial plot covers an area of 3 ha with a slope ranging from 1 to 5% and several undulations. In order to capture all the information on the soil morphology of the 03 hectares, ... J. Biloa |
253. An Ensemble-Based Deep Learning Approach for Early and Accurate Wheat Disease DetectionCrop diseases are the primarily cause for yield loss and a factor for food security issue around the globe. Crop diseases caused by pathogens pose a significant threat to global food security, the challenge become worst particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. Rapid population growth and accurate disease identification is crucial for timely intervention and minimizing crop losses. However, traditional methods often rely on expert analysis, which can be time-consuming and resource-i... T. Aboneh, P. Rorissa |
254. Rainwater Harvesting and Nutrient Intensification in Maize-Legume Farming Systems in Semi-Arid ZimbabweAgricultural productivity in Zimbabwe is declining mainly due to climate change and inherently poor soil fertility. The situation is worsened by the high cost of fertilizers beyond the reach of many smallholder farmers. In response to these challenges, most smallholder farmers are implementing either rainwater harvesting (RWH) or integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). This study sought to investigate the role of integrating the tied-contour RWH (TC-RWH) technique and ISFM on soil moistu... E. Mutsamba-magwaza, D. Nyamayevu, G. Nyamadzawo, R. Mandumbu, I. Nyagumbo |
255. Assessing of Soil Nutrients Using Laboratory and Remote Sensing Methods in Northern Guinea SavannahIntroduction Soil nutrients are essential for plant growth and development, making their assessment crucial for sustainable agriculture and environmental management. The northern Guinea savannah region, known for its agricultural potential, requires periodic monitoring of soil nutrient status to ensure optimal crop yields and maintain soil fertility. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of laboratory and remote sensing techniques in assessing soil nutrients in this region.... A. Rabiu garba |
256. Comparative Study on Precision Nitrogen Management for Wheat Using Greenseeker, Chlorophyll Meter and Leaf Color Chart Based on Spectral Characteristics of LeavesCollecting results on nitrogen (N) uptake throughout the growing season using tools such as GreenSeeker optical sensor, chlorophyll meter and Leaf Color Chart (LCC) holds great promise for optimizing N fertilizer management in cereal crops. To investigate this further, field experiments were conducted over two consecutive winter seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) on wheat at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, located in Giza Governorate, Egypt. The primary o... A. Soaud, E. El-metwally , A. Ali, R. Sayed |
257. Use of “FertiEdge” Application for Optimizing Wheat FertilizationWheat is a crop of global importance, and effective fertilization is crucial to maximize yield and quality. Traditional methods of fertilization often result in under- or over-application of nutrients, resulting in environmental problems and suboptimal crop yields. FertiEdge is a digital application that provides accurate fertilization recommendations based on real-time data, it’s an innovative tool designed to enhance the efficiency of wheat fertilization. This study evaluates its impa... I. Sbai, F. Sehbaoui, M. Hmimou |
258. Multivariate Regional Deep Learning Prediction of Soil Properties from Near-Infrared, Mid-Infrared and Their Combined SpectraArtificial neural network (ANN) models have been successfully used in infrared spectroscopy research for the prediction of soil properties. They often show better performance than conventional methods such as partial least squares regression (PLSR). In this study we develop and evaluate a multivariate extension of ANN for predicting correlated soil properties: total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), clay, silt, and sand contents, using visible near-infrared (vis-NIR), mid-infrared (MIR) or comb... R. Nyawasha |
259. Assessment of the Variability in Yield Response to Agricultural Practices Under Maize (Zea Mays L.) Cultivation in the Central Region of TogoAssessing in-field variability of crop yield could be a tool towards a precise nutrient use and a balanced plant nutrition. The evidence is however established that among other factors, in-field crop yield variability is primarily linked to agricultural management practices. This study determined maize crop yield field variability under two management practices in Central region of Togo, a wet savanna agroecosystem. The experiment conducted in three (03) years (2021 to 2023) using the I... L. Mouhamadou, J. Sogbedji, K. Lotsi |
260. Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Agricultural Practices on Maize (Zea Mays L.) Yield Variability in the Savanes Region of TogoSustainable production practices are needed to improve nutrient use efficiency in West African cropping systems, particularly in the face of basic resource degradation. A study was conducted in the prefectures of Oti and Kpendjal, in the Savanes region of Togo, with a total of 10 producers in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The objective was to analyze agricultural practices on grain yield variability of maize (Ikenne variety). Two agricultural management practices were included: the peasant practice (t... L. Mouhamadou, J. Sogbedji, K.A. Lotsi |
261. Application of Remote Sensing for Drought Monitoring Using Vegetation Indices in Pineapple Growing Areas in the Central Region of GhanaThe pronounced drought conditions in Ghana, particularly in the central region due to climate change, profoundly hamper pineapple production. The present study seeks to monitor and evaluate drought severity and spatial distribution in the central region of Ghana (specifically Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipal) during the growing season from 2000 to 2023, while exploring the relationship between climate conditions (temperature and rainfall), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a... E. Hanyabui, A. Somiah |
262. Upland Rice Yield Response to Soil Moisture Variability with Depth Across Ferralsols and Gleysols in Western UgandaSoil moisture is a vital factor in boosting rice productivity by influencing the growth of healthy plants. In mid-western districts like Kikuube where rainfall is unpredictable, maintaining optimal soil moisture differs between a bountiful harvest and crop failure. Effective soil moisture management leads to improved water use efficiency, allowing crops to withstand periods of drought. This study assessed upland yield response to soil moisture variations with soil depth in Ferralsols and Gley... T. Matila, P. Tamale |
263. High-Throughput Field Phenotyping of Ascochyta Blight Disease Severity in Chickpea Using Multispectral ImagingAscochyta blight (AB) caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. is an important and widespread disease of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) worldwide. The disease is particularly severe under cool and humid weather conditions, leading to crop losses at all stages of chickpea growth. Screening for resistant cultivars remains the most effective, economical and ecological method of disease management. However, traditional phenotyping methods that relying on trained experts are... F. Ibn el mokhtar, S. Krimibencheqroun , , A. Harkani , H. Houmairi , O. Idrissi , E. Abdellah , E. Abdellah |
264. Preservation of Encroached Gazetted Wetland Through Assessing Moisture Conditions of Riparian Fringes Under Upland Rice Production in UgandaIn Uganda, rice production in the fragile ecology is common amidst climate change and moisture stress in the upper landscapes. Some farmers have opted to use both riparian fringes and wetland ecologies endowed with moisture yet there is a wetland policy that bans encroachment. However, the use of the riparian fringes (immediate landscapes near a wetlands) could be potential upland rice production zones but the reliability of their moisture levels to support yield is not well under... P. Musinguzi, T. Matila, E. Opolot, P. Tamale, P. Mpuuga, J. Mutegi, T. Oberthür, P. Ebanyat, L. Abasize, B. Kiconco |
265. On-Farm Experimentation Process Triggers Farmers’ Zeal to Test Technologies in Maize Systems of Embu County, KenyaTo faster farmer participation, knowledge transfer and innovation among all actors, there the need to rethink the process of conducting research. Initiated in 2022, the African Plant Nutrition Research Fund maize project (APNRF maize) set out validate a package of soil moisture and fertilizer nitrogen management practices, and to track farmer adoption of better agronomic practices as supported by data through on-farm experimentation (OFE) process. Prior to the establishment of experiments, fa... O. Kitonyo |
266. Toward Precision Agriculture by Assessing FAO Soil Data Accuracy with Localised Soil Mapping in Mid-Western UgandaProper soil mapping remains a major input for efforts that aim at developing context specific soil and crop management. Soil maps often enable policy makers and other agricultural extension programs to establish the suitability of land for various production systems. Currently, most soil maps have been developed basing in the FAO soil data bases at a scale of 1:50,000 yet farmers and other local land users require fine scales to guide decision in the use of fertilizers and selection of ... P. Musinguzi, E. Ojambo |
267. Optimizing Maize Production Through Minimum Tillage in Conservation Agriculture Systems: Evidence from Malawi's LowlandsSustainable intensification in agricultural systems has been implemented and promoted across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as a strategy for addressing low crop productivity often resulting in widespread food and nutritional insecurity. This study sought to assess the productivity potential of conservation agriculture (CA) cropping systems and associated crop establishment techniques in terms of grain, protein and energy yield. An on-station trial was implemented at Chitala Research Station in Mal... D. Nyamayevu, I. Nyagumbo, W. Liang , R. Li |
268. Using NUTMON MODEL to Estimate Nutrient Balances Across Soil Types Under Different Nutrient Management Regimes in Upland Rice.Rice (Oryza sativa L) is one of the most important cereal crops supporting nearly one-half of the global population. However, there are declining trends of rice yields in most rice producing fields in Uganda attributed to nutrient imbalance as reflected in the decline in soil fertility. Influence of management regimes on nutrient balances remain not well understood especially under commonly applied NPK across different soil types. Calculating and monitoring nutr... P. Tamale, T. Matila |
269. Within-Farm Heterogeneity in Soil Fertility is an Asset for Improving Crop Productivity in Smallholder Farming SystemsHeterogeneity in soil fertility is best recognised by smallholder farmers at field scale and use it to target production options to meet their desired goals. We analysed experimental data for soyabean and groundnut grown with inoculation and P fertilisers on fields of varying fertility in 72 smallholder farms in the Southern and Eastern Lake Kyoga Basin and the Northern Moist Farmlands Agroecological zones (soyabean) and on 36 farms in the Northern Moist Agroecological z... P. Ebanyat, J. Ssekamwa, A. Othieno, P. Tukamuhbwa, G. Olupot, T.L. Odong |
270. Identifying Mechanisms for Enhanced Water Use Efficiency in Selected Maize Varieties Grown in Embu County, KenyaMoisture stress significantly reduces maize yield in mid and low altitude environments in Kenya. This is attributed to low and poorly distributed rainfall, whose effects are markedly devastating during the reproductive phase of maize growth. To adapt maize to moisture stress, farmers plant early and use early maturity as well as drought tolerant varieties. A baseline survey conducted in the maize growing regions of Embu County established that farmers grow a wide range of maize varieties. How... C. Mwangi, O. Kitonyo |
271. Real-Time Moisture Control in Irrigation Systems for Water Use Efficiency and Climate Change Resilience. A ReviewDue to the increasing water scarcity and uncertainties of climate change, improving crop water use efficiency and productivity, at the same time minimizing detrimental effects on the environment to meet the world's rising food demand. Thus, is necessary to adopt innovative irrigation strategies, such as drip irrigation. Smart irrigation has a potential of improving water use efficiency in precision agriculture. Conventionally, irrigation systems rely on heuristic methods in order to sched... D. Kindikiza |
272. Recommended Fertilization Formulas Adapted to Maize (Zea Mays L.) Production in the Central Region of TogoPrecision agriculture, a solution to soil degradation and food insecurity, is needed to optimize crop yields. We conducted subtractive nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) trials under maize (Zea mays L.) in the prefectures of Tchaoudjo and Sotouboua, in the central region of Togo, in 2020. The aim was to determine the endogenous fertility of soils in these prefectures in terms of maize grain yield, with a view to making recommendations for site-specific fertilization formulas based... L. Mouhamadou, J. Sogbedji, K. Lotsi |
273. Predicting the Distribution of Groundnut Phytopathogens Under Current and Future Climatic Scenarios in ZimbabweGroundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil crop with immense nutritional and economic benefits, but its productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is threatened by a plethora of phytopathogens such as groundnut rosette virus, Alternaria leafspots, early leafspots and peanut rust. In Zimbabwe, ecological niches and epidemiology of these pathogenic microbial strains, particularly under the current and predicted climate change scenarios, are still poorly understood. Yet, this inf... H. Chinwa, C.N. Kamutando |
274. Use of Digital Extension Tools for Agricultural Information Management Among Cassava Value Chain Actors in Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State, NigeriaPoor coverage of farmers by extension services and other limitations necessitates adapting the agricultural process to new opportunities, including digital extension. This is more important for cassava value chain actors given the recognition of the crop for food security in Nigeria and its widespread promotion by several local and regional development interventions. Therefore, the use of digital extension tools for agricultural information management among cassava value chain actors in... O. Fadairo, A.M. Durojaiye, R. Adegbayi |
275. Improving Vegetative Growth and Productivity of Potato Plants Grown Under Smart Irrigation System Compared to the Ordinary SystemEgypt is exposed to many challenges that may affect its food security. Egypt is located in arid regions that suffer from a severe shortage of rain and the climate changes which have seen their negative impacts on plant growth and crop productivity. Furthermore, the limitation of available water of Egypt, which does not meet the current needs and not commensurate with the agricultural expansions and targeted future projects for meeting the population needs of food. So it has become necessary t... S. El-sawy, Z. Sun , . He, S. Mahmoud, A. El-tanahy, A. Hamza |
276. Scalable Artificial Intelligence, Geospatial Big Data Analytics and Digital Agriculture: a Focus on Lessons Learnt and Their Implication for Improved ProductionIn the era of Agriculture 5.0, digital agriculture driven by big data analytics is revolutionizing agricultural production management and opfimization. This transformation leverages cloud computing and AI to harness vast amounts of data generated from sources such as satellite imagery, IoT devices, and precision farming equipment. By integrating these technologies, scalable and flexible cloud infrastructure solutions are developed to enhance decision-making processes, which improves crop yiel... K. Nketia |
277. Human-Powered Proximal Soil Sensing for Small FarmsOver the past 25 years several on-the-go proximal soil sensors have been developed, commercialized, and adopted by crop consultants, retailers, and growers for mapping large fields and farms. These technologies are used to map soil texture--which impacts water and nutrient holding capacity, organic matter--a measure of soil health and productivity, and pH—which directly affects nutrient availability. Typically, these sensors are deployed with tractors or other off-road vehicles, u... E. Lund |
278. Towards Development of a Minimum Soil Health Dataset Framework for African Cropping SystemsThe large number of parameters included under biological, chemical, and physical indicators of soil health complicate operationalization of soil health concept for multiple ecosystem functions. Following widespread consultation with soil health experts and review of legacy data, five important soil health indicators were identified as the most critical for African cropping systems. The criteria for identification included applicability in prediction of a range of other biological, chemical an... J. Mutegi, S. Zingore, K. Amouzou, H. Boulal, T. Oberthür |
279. Enhancing Micropropagation As a Precision Agriculture Technique for Optimum Production of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) PropagulesSweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) remains an important socioeconomic root tuber; however, poor planting materials are a significant factor that hinders the economic productivity of the crop globally. In vitro micropropagation remains not only cheaper but also a highly effective technique for the rapid production of healthy propagules in a relatively short time. However, the efficiency of micropropagation is contingent on various factors of which plant growth regulators are... G. Adu donyina |
280. iSDA’s Virtual Agronomist – Expert Advice for Every FarmerIn most African countries, extension officers struggle to serve an overwhelming number of farmers, with ratios typically surpassing 2,000:1 and, in some regions, even exceeding 10,000:1. This severe imbalance leaves countless farmers without access to crucial agricultural guidance. Even when farmers do connect with extension officers, they only receive sporadic visits. Consequently, most farmers operate without the benefit of professional agricultural advice, potentially hindering their produ... P. Chunga |
281. Smart Mechanized Harvesting Technologies for Loss Reduction and Sustainability... R. Silva |
282. Welcome from APNI... K. Majumdar |
283. Welcome From the Rwanda Agriculture Board... V. Ruganzu |
284. Precision Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers in Africa... A. Chapoto |
285. Precision Agriculture for Africa’s Smallholder FarmersThe adoption of precision agriculture practices by farmers in Africa is low - mostly limited to larger scale commercial operations. Crop yields and overall production are also very low for most farmers in Africa, limited by poor soil quality and access to improved seed, fertilizer and pest management. There is tremendous need for improved yield and crop production across Africa. Direct adoption of precision agriculture practices used in North America and Europe generally is not feasible in Af... R. Ferguson |
286. How 100.000 Automatic IOT Weather Stations for Disease, Irrigation and Fertilizer Management Will Change the Life of 10 Million Smallholder Farmers and Create New Local Jobs for 10.000 Digital Farm Advisors?... G. Pessl |
287. Empowering Farmers Through Precision Soil Mapping and Customised Fertilisation Strategies. SCIENCE-BASED ApproachThis presentation will analyse the work on soil mapping and cartography, highlighting their essential role in developing accessible agronomic services. By integrating advanced technologies and applying the principles of the 4Rs (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place), this approach aims to optimise crop fertilisation, thereby promoting sustainable precision agriculture tailored to the needs of farmers. ... A. Hamma |
288. Precision Farming Technologies for Small to Mid-Scale Farmers in Africa Using GNSS Technology and EO Data... M. Mishamo |
289. From Idaho to Africa: How 20 Years of Farmer PA Experience Can Benefit Agriculture in Africa 2024... R. Blair |
290. Overview of Precision Agriculture in AfricaPrecision Agriculture (PA) has a short research and implementation history in Africa relative to other regions of the world. Uptake of PA technologies is also generally low and concentrated in a few countries. The low uptake of PA in Africa has been linked to various socio-economic, technological, and environmental constraints. These include low farm incomes, high capital cost of PA technologies, limited access to PA supportive technologies, small farm sizes, and undulating landscapes that li... S. Njoroge |
291. Advancing Precision Agriculture Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring Factors for Success and ObstaclesPrecision Agriculture (PA) is a critical tool for addressing food security challenges, yet its adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains low. This study examines the role of education in advancing PA adoption, focusing on barriers and opportunities for integrating PA into the agricultural curriculum in SSA, with Nigerian institutions as a case study. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 227 respondents comprising faculty, undergraduate, and postgraduate students from tertiary i... T. Adefare |
292. Engineering Technology for Crop Monitoring and Disease IdentificationIn recent years, significant progress has been made in the use of remotely sensed data obtained from sensors mounted on terrestrial (e.g., tractors, robots, or rovers), aerial (e.g., unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), airplanes, or balloons), and satellite platforms for the early detection of crop diseases, enabling targeted applications of pesticides. Among the most promising technologies for acquiring high-resolution data are hyperspectral sensors (offering a higher number of wavebands) and m... M. Perez-ruiz |
293. Welcome from OCP Nutricrops... . VergÜtz |
294. Welcome from UM6P... R. Serraj |
295. Keynote from Ittai Herrmann... I. Herrmann |
296. What's New in the Africa Drone SpaceAfrica has been experiencing increases in drone tech services, but is still in its infancy with mostly smaller players operating in a cottage like industry. Dronlytics is building the first drone manufacturing facility in Rwanda, introducing a new advanced drone. ... A. Hall |
297. Building Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems Through Precision Nutrient Management... D. Madukwe |
298. Does Precision Agriculture Create a Technological Gap Between Genders - an African Perspective... P. Chivenge |
299. Women in Precision Agriculture - Panel Discussion... P. Chivenge, T. Aziza, M. Mechri, T. Adefare |
300. Presentation from Yafit Cohen... Y. Cohen |
301. Presentation from Mohamed Ouarani... M. Ouarani |
302. Welcome from ISPA... S. Phillips |
303. Welcome from AAPA... V. Aduramigba-modupe |
304. The Debate Continues: Ortho vs. Poly-Phosphate Fertilizers - Comparative Effects of Orthophosphate MAP 12-61-00 and Polyphosphate (10-34-0) on Strawberries and Tomatoes Productivity in CaliforniaThis study investigates the ongoing debate between Orthophosphate (MAP 12-61-0) and Polyphosphate (10-34-0) fertilizers by examining their effects on strawberries and tomatoes production in California. We tried to introduce a Merditerrannean fertigation practice for California based on high ferquencies applications of Phosphorus using Orthophosphate fertilizer form vs a standard practice using Ammonium Polyphosphate with low frequencies application rate. Trials were conducted at mul... A. Jamal |
305. National Agricultural Data Infrastructure As Bedrock for Precision Agriculture... B. Addom |
306. Closing Session and Awards... K. Majumdar |
307. Overview of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action PlanThe Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan aims to enhance agricultural productivity and food security across the continent by improving soil health and promoting the sustainable use of fertilizers. The objectives of the Action Plan are to (i) create an enabling policy and market and environment for increased use of organic and mineral fertilizers; (ii) enhance access to inputs for smallholder farmers; (iii) develop and disseminate technologies and knowledge to support the appropriate ... S. Zingore |
308. The Role of the Coalition in the Implementation of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan... L. Umunna |
309. Presentation from Uwase Safi... U. Safi |
310. Assessing African Smallholder Cereal Farming Using Sentinel-2A Spectral Reflectance... S. Phillips |
311. West Africa Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health... J. Crouch |
312. Keynote from Precision Drones Limited... G. Nyaga |
313. Modelling of Machine Learning Protocols for Laser Weeding: Case Study of Coffee Plantations... C. Wambui |
314. A Framework for a Crop Yield Prediction Model Based on Decision Tree and Min-max Scaling... S. Musa |
315. Advancements in Precision Agriculture Cutting-edge Solutions for Coccidiosis Disease Using Smart Diagnostic Systems... F. Bamigboye |
316. Empowering Smallholder Farmers Precision Agriculture Models in Africa (a Case Study of Nigeria)... S. Popoola |
317. Influence of Mulched-drip Irrigation System on Yield and Physiological Attributes of Pepper Varieties in Southwest, Nigeria... I. Kehinde |
318. Land Suitability Prediction for Maize Production in Southwest Nigeria Using Geographical Information System and Mostlimiting Soil Native Fertility Factors... T. Olutoberu |
319. Policy Implications of the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in Nigeria... E. Oyedepo |
320. Smartsprout Leveraging Iot for Sustainable and Efficient Smart Irrigation Systems in Africa... P. Oyedepo |
321. Assessing the Potential of UAV-Acquired Multispectral Imagery Combined with Machine Learning Techniques in Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Taro And Sweet Potato in Smaller Holder Farms... M. Abrahams |
322. Assessing the Utility of Image Segmentation Techniques and Leaf Area Index in Improving Taro Yield Prediction Based on UAV-Acquired Multispectral Data in Smallholder Croplands... S. Buthelezi |
323. Investigating the Interaction Between Soil Moisture and Clay Content for Enhanced Soil Moisture Prediction: A Lab-Based Approach with Implications for African Agriculture... Y. Atyosi |
324. Leveraging UAV Remotely Sensed Data to Estimate Crop Water Stress of Underutilized Taro Crops in Smallholder Croplands... M. Sibanda |
325. Assessing The Potential Of Drone Remotely Sensed Data In Detecting The Soil Water Content, And Taro Leaf Chlorophyll Content Across Different Phenological Stages... R. Masemola |
326. Benefits of Precision Agriculture in Sugarcane Farming: A case of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa... N. Gumede |