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Unique in the world: they present free satellite maps that are extremely useful for Argentine agriculture

2023-03-09T07:35:04.938Z


The tools obtained from the SAOCOM satellites are free to use and have useful applications for agriculture.


The

National Commission for Space Activities

(CONAE) unveiled at Expoagro new

free access satellite maps for the agricultural sector

.

Through these tools, generated based on information from the Argentine constellation SAOCOM 1, "it is possible to know the state and evolution of soil moisture, with unprecedented precision, estimate the yields of the main pampas crops, compare them with the yield of the last year or with the historical series, and forecast diseases, among other applications of agricultural interest," CONAE announced.

SAOCOM 1A and 1B satellites

were launched into space in 2018 and 2020, respectively

.

They are equipped with a

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in L band, developed in Argentina, unique in the world

, and which stands out for obtaining information day and night, and regardless of weather conditions.

In addition, the satellite signal can penetrate the topsoil and estimate the calibrated and validated moisture below the crops more accurately than ever before.

The information provided by the SAOCOM 1 Mission helps producers to know the state of soil moisture to decide the time of sowing, fertilization, harvesting and optimal irrigation, among other aspects, in crops such as soybeans, corn , wheat and sunflower.

Likewise, it provides support in relation to the use of phytosanitary products for the control of diseases, particularly Fusarium wilt of the wheat head.

moisture maps

The

Soil Surface Moisture Maps for the Pampas region

, available in the SAOCOM image catalog, allow monitoring the evolution of soil moisture

for the main

regional crops (soybean, corn, wheat and sunflower), with information updated throughout the campaign.

This information allows us to know how moisture varies in the lot and make better management decisions.

It is the most advanced remote observation technology, worldwide, to know the water content in the soil

, below the crops, with precise information about the Pampas region”, said Álvaro Soldano, assistant manager of Applications and Observation Products of the CONAE Land.

Unlike the optical signal, the radar signal is very sensitive to the presence and variation of moisture in the soil and for this reason its value can be measured through the response of the radar signal, and its changes over time can be recorded. .

According to Soldano, the real measurement of humidity with radar has been calibrated and validated with an error of less than 10% in each pixel.

The product gains even more value during times of drought, as happens during the current agricultural cycle.

This map provides vital information in the arid and semi-arid areas of our country, because it allows optimization of water consumption and the management of irrigation systems

based on the real water needs of the crops.

Soil Moisture Map (superficial layer).

In colors the humidity value corresponding to the scale is observed (in % volume/volume).

The image pixels that have been masked are indicated in white (urban areas, unclassified crops and bodies of water).

Soldano highlighted that CONAE also aims to calibrate and validate the Soil Moisture Map for other extra-pampas crops.

In this regard, he reported: "We are developing it for sugarcane and we could extend it to other intensive crops, such as vegetables and fruit and wine production."

"On the other hand, we have developed

a system that allows estimating the humidity of the soil profile in large homogeneous areas, for each crop, based on environmental conditions

such as soil type, rainfall regime, soil water content and temperature," added.

The product of this system, the

"Moisture in the soil profile integrated at 50 centimeters depth"

, provides an estimate of the water content in the soil profile and allows analyzing its evolution over time.

The maps are published daily with information from five provinces of the Pampean Region in the CONAE GEOPortal, and freely distributed to users, such as producers, advisors and extension agents.

Map of Anomalies for the Median of the Maize Yield Scenarios, forecast on February 25, 2023 for the end of the campaign, based on normal production.

yield maps

CONAE developed two products to estimate the yields of the main Pampas crops, useful for forecasting the performance of the campaign and identifying to what extent it differs from other previous production cycles.

This tool is also available on the

GEOPortal

.

The product

"Interannual variation map"

, based on SAOCOM soil moisture information and a predictive model, allows estimating the yield of each crop and anticipating the most probable scenarios, based on previous moisture and temperature conditions and during the agricultural campaign.

"The objective is to generate maps that represent the increase or reduction in production expected for the end of the campaign compared to the previous year," said Soldano.

Map of Anomalies for the Median of the Maize Yield Scenarios, forecast on February 25, 2023 for the end of the campaign, based on normal production.

The normal year corresponds to the median value of the yields calculated between 1990 and 2019. The map was generated through processing by homogeneous area over the Pampean Region.

SAOCOM® Product - ©CONAE -2023.

you

Meanwhile, the product

"Map of anomalies"

allows comparing this estimate with respect to the yields achieved in the last three decades and obtaining a historical average.

The objective is to generate maps that represent the increase or reduction in production expected for the end of the campaign compared to a normal year, taken as the median of the 30 yields calculated from 1990 to 2019.

Map of the Incidence of Fusarium wilt of the Ear of Wheat, for November 26, 2022, where the values ​​reached by the Fusarium wilt index of the wheat ear are expressed in each homogeneous zone on the Pampean Region.

SAOCOM® Product - ©CONAE -2023.

Fusarium wilt prognosis

Fusarium ear of wheat (FET) is one of the most important fungal diseases of this crop and other cereals in Argentina.

This pathology reduces yield and produces toxins that contaminate the grains used for human and animal consumption.

The product

"Map of the incidence of Fusarium wilt"

, developed by CONAE with information from SAOCOM satellites, makes it possible to identify the areas with the highest risk of the appearance of this disease in environments of the Pampas region that share agroecological characteristics, such as soil types , humidity and temperature.

The information is periodically updated in the CONAE GEOPortal.

According to Soldano, this product is especially important to relieve risk areas during critical cereal periods, such as the anthesis or spike stage, when the fusariosis fungus develops.

This tool serves to alert about a possible attack of the disease and to minimize the losses with the previous application of fungicides.

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-03-09

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