The primary goal of platform integration is to give greater convenience, boost production, optimize fertilizer use, and provide farmers with a higher return on investment. This conclusion would address many of the issues affecting rice production in Japan, such as an aging workforce, labor shortages, and land area consolidation. It would also assist farmers in becoming more sustainable and globally competitive, as well as meeting defined fertilizer reduction targets outlined in the country’s MeaDRI strategy for sustainable food systems.
Involved the farmers experiences during the 2023 growing season
Phase two of the collaboration will test the performance of platform integration through field trials in rice crops, which will be managed by ZEN-NOH.
The field trials will be held during the 2023 growing season and involve farmers experienced with using xarvio FIELD MANAGER, Kubota’s KSAS platform and its machinery. Here farmers will use the KSAS platform and Kubota rice transplanters to implement field-specific, xarvio FIELD MANAGER variable application maps for fertilization.
The results of these new field trials will complement those achieved in more than 100 field trials conducted in rice crops last year by ZEN-NOH and BASF. In last year’s field trials, xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps for fertilization were used and compared to standard fertilization application practices. By using xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps, yield increases of between 15% to 20% were achieved, with an average fertilizer input reduction of 10% recorded. In some cases, depending on field conditions, fertilizer use was reduced by up to 50%.
The need to become more sustainable and globally competitive
Konstantin Kretschun, Global Head of BASF Digital Farming, comments: “Rice farmers in Japan recognize the need to become more sustainable and globally competitive, while reducing environment impacts and meeting MeaDRI strategy targets. Climate smart farming technology provides a proven, effective and available solution to help them achieve these goals. By working closely with Kubota and our valued partner in ZEN-NOH to connect offerings, we can together deliver even greater value to farmers and positively transform rice production in Japan.”
In April 2021, BASF and ZEN-NOH launched xarvio FIELD MANAGER in Japan. Its success, particularly its strong adoption rate among farmers, is based on its ability to deliver consistent, field-specific, measurable agronomic benefits. The digital product uses proven plant models and agronomic algorithms in combination with multiple data inputs, including historical agronomic information, in-season risks, weather data and satellite-based biomass images to provide farmers with clear and prompt, field-specific agronomic recommendations to apply crop fertilization and crop protection.
By connecting xarvio FIELD MANAGER with Kubota’s powerful KSAS farming and service support system, the seamless transfer and use of xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps for fertilization by KSAS compatible rice transplanters is realized, without the need for an added device for data transfer.
The forefront of the digital transformation of agriculture
It is anticipated that full integration between xarvio FIELD MANAGER and Kubota’s KSAS platform will be commercially available in Japan from spring 2024.
About xarvio® Digital Farming Solutions – a brand by BASF Digital Farming GmbH xarvio® Digital Farming Solutions is at the forefront of the digital transformation of agriculture, optimizing crop production. Its products, xarvio® FIELD MANAGER and xarvio® HEALTHY FIELDS, use an advanced crop modelling platform to provide independent, timely and field-specific agronomic advice. xarvio’s proven technology consistently delivers measurable benefits for farmers, helping them to produce crops more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably.
