Articles publicats (Grup de Recerca en AgròTICa i Agricultura de Precisió)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repositori.udl.cat/handle/10459.1/49299

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 5 of 128
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    On-farm experimentation of precision agriculture for differential seed and fertilizer management in semi-arid rainfed zones
    (Springer, 2024) Videgain Marco, María ; Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio; Vigo-Morancho, Alba; Vidal Cortés, Mariano; García-Ramos, Francisco Javier
    This study explores the integration of precision agriculture technologies (PATs) in rainfed cereal production within semi-arid regions.Methodsutilizing the Veris 3100 sensor for apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) mapping, differentiated management zones (MZs) were established in experimental plots in Valsalada, NE Spain. Site-specific variable dose technology was applied for seed and fertilizer applications, tailoring inputs to distinct fertility levels within each MZ. Emphasizing nitrogen (N) management, the study evaluated the impact of variable-rate applications on crop growth, yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and economic returns. For the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons, seeding rates ranged from 350 to 450 grains/m2, and basal fertilizer dosages varied between high and low levels. Additionally, the total nitrogen units were distributed differently between the two seasons, while maintaining a uniform topdressing fertilizer dose across all treatments.ResultsResults revealed a significant increase in yield in MZ 2 (higher fertility) compared to MZ 1 (lower fertility). NUE demonstrated notable improvement in MZ 2, emphasizing the effectiveness of variable-rate N applications. Economic returns, calculated as partial net income, showed a considerable advantage in MZ 2 over MZ 1, resulting in negative outcomes for low-fertility areas in several of the analyzed scenarios, and highlighting the financial benefits of tailored input management.ConclusionThis research provides quantitative evidence supporting the viability and advantages of adopting PATs in rainfed cereal production. The study contributes valuable insights into optimizing input strategies, enhancing N management, and improving economic returns in semi-arid regions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Local factors have a greater influence on the abundance of alfalfa weevil and its larval parasitoids than landscape complexity in heterogeneous landscapes
    (Springer, 2024) Levi-Mourao, Alexandre; Meseguer, Roberto; Madeira, Filipe; Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio; Costamagna, Alejandro C.; Pons i Domènech, Xavier
    The alfalfa weevil Hypera postica Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the most destructive pests of alfalfa worldwide. Both local and landscape-scale factors can significantly influence crop pests, natural enemies, and the effectiveness of biological control services, but the relative influence of these factors is unclear. Objectives We investigated the influence of the local variables and surrounding landscape composition and configuration on the abundance of alfalfa weevil, and on the abundance and parasitism rates of its larval parasitoids, Bathyplectes spp. Methods We sampled 65 commercial alfalfa fields along the Ebro Basin, Spain, over a period of 3 years, recording the field characteristics and landscape structure at three buffer radii of 250, 500 and 1000 m from the center of each field. Results The abundance of weevil larvae was positively associated with the field perimeter and with the uncut alfalfa surrounding the pipes of the sprinkler irrigation system, but only one configuration variable was positively correlated: the alfalfa edge density. No local characteristics or landscape structures were associated with the abundance of adult weevils. The abundance of Bathyplectes spp. adults was positively associated to local factors such as the densities of alfalfa weevils and aphids. Few landscape structure variables, such as alfalfa edge density and Simpson's Diversity Index, had explanatory value only at 250 m buffer radius. The rate of larval parasitism was affected by local variables, such as alfalfa weevil abundance and field age. Our results provide, for the first time in the Mediterranean region and Europe, evidence of the relative importance of landscape structure and local factors on the abundance of the alfalfa weevil and its larval parasitoids, Bathyplectes spp. The strongest influences were based on local characteristics.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Proyecto PAgFRUIT - Avances en la aplicabilidad de tecnologías en la agricultura de precisión en fruticultura
    (Editorial Tècnica Quatrebcn, 2023) Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio; Escolà i Agustí, Alexandre
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Soluciones de agricultura de precisión para el control de malas hierbas en maíz
    (Eumedia, 2023) Montull, José M.; Llenes, J. M.; Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio; Escolà i Agustí, Alexandre
    Durante los últimos años se vienen desarrollando diferentes trabajos con el objetivo de integrar nuevas tecnologías en el control de las malas hierbas del maíz que nos permitan mantener los rendimientos con una menor cantidad de insumos, haciendo que su producción sea más eficiente y sostenible. En este artículo se detallan algunos de los avances surgidos de dichos trabajos.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Drip Irrigation Soil-Adapted Sector Design and Optimal Location of Moisture Sensors: A Case Study in a Vineyard Plot
    (MDPI, 2023) Arnó Satorra, Jaume; Uribeetxebarria Alonso de Armiño, Asier; Llorens Calveras, Jordi; Escolà i Agustí, Alexandre; Rosell Polo, Joan Ramon; Gregorio López, Eduard; Martínez Casasnovas, José Antonio
    To optimise sector design in drip irrigation systems, a two-stage procedure is presented and applied in a commercial vineyard plot. Soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) mapping and soil purposive sampling are the two stages on which the proposal is based. Briefly, ECa data to wet bulb depth provided by the VERIS 3100 soil sensor were mapped before planting using block ordinary kriging. Looking for simplicity and practicality, only two ECa classes were delineated from the ECa map (k-means algorithm) to delimit two potential soil classes within the plot with possible different properties in terms of potential soil water content and/or soil water regime. Contrasting the difference between ECa classes (through discriminant analysis of soil properties at different systematic sampling locations), irrigation sectors were then designed in size and shape to match the previous soil zoning. Taking advantage of the points used for soil sampling, two of these locations were finally selected as candidates to install moisture sensors according to the purposive soil sampling theory. As these two spatial points are expectedly the most representative of each soil class, moisture information in these areas can be taken as a basis for better decision-making for vineyard irrigation management.