“Farmers are looking for ways to assess their crops throughout the year to make informed fertilizer decisions,” said Zack Brym, associate professor of agronomy at UF/IFAS TREC.
“We’ve shown that farmers with access to aerial images using red and near infrared (NIR) detection can spot differences in plant health by their color when scanning their fields,” he said.
This is crucial because timely and precise fertilizer applications can significantly impact hemp crop yield and quality, Brym said.
“Since nutrients move through the soil so fast in Florida, farmers are applying fertilizer multiple times each year. Technology like the use of drone imaging will help determine how much fertilizer might be needed mid-season, promoting more efficient use of resources and supporting sustainable farming practices,” he said.
Hemp, a plant reintroduced in 2019 for cultivation research in Florida agriculture, provides an alternate opportunity for farmers due to the potential demand for hemp products across various industries. Low-input systems for fiber production may also offer benefits to soil health and carbon sequestration.
Source : ufl.edu