The key objective of the project was to develop, test and implement two sustainable techniques in arable farming. They include the use of the Topsoil Mapper, a contact-free sensor technology for the detection and prevention of soil compaction, and the Zasso electric weeding machine. The impacts and potential for wider roll-out is investigated through experimentation on farm, and in collaboration with the developer of these technologies, with results planned for wider dissemination in the sector.
The project aimed to test the potential of the Topsoil Mapper to detect compacted layers and target deep tillage efficiently only in the affected locations, with expected energy savings of 30-50% as a result of precision agriculture measures. The project also tested the Zasso machine, with a view to further develop the underlying technology. The research conducted as part of the project aimed to answer the following questions: what is the effectiveness of the technology in relation to weeds, foliage, green manure, and others, both field-wide, along strips of land and in individual locations; what is the influence of this technique on soil life and insects; what is the effect on the (seed) potatoes after the treatment, both for vitality and storability; is the technique a realistic option in terms of costs and capacity and how can the method be used as efficiently as possible.