ABA Nutrition workshops with Patrick Brown and LandScan demonstrations
RESEARCH & EVENTS
Workshops a chance to see LandScan technology in action
GROWERS attending the Almond Board of Australia’ s nutrition workshops next week will get the opportunity to see LandScan technology in action. The first shipment of this equipment has just made its way to Australia from the US and it will be initially deployed on two almond properties around Griffith. Chief Executive Officer Dan Rooney said the technology allows growers to identify underperforming parts of their orchard via data gathered from aerial imagery and soil probes. A first step is the collection of highresolution satellite and drone images. LandScan then uses the crop as sensors and targets measurement of the soil based on the variability of crop performance. A digital probe, fitted with seven different sensors is used at these locations, taking measurements to a depth of 1.2m in about 60 seconds. The probe measures soil properties like nutrient levels, water holding capacity, soil organic carbon, pH, and many others. This is repeated across the field at select locations resulting in a very thorough understanding of the relationship between crop performance, the soil, and the management. LandScan provides growers and their agronomists with an interactive simulator, which allows them to adjust their inputs and see how it will influence yields. The data can be fed directly into variable rate spreaders.“ Variable Rate Technology has evolved quickly in row crops, but horticulture is back in the stone age and there is so much waste,” he said.“ Applying nutrients with a one size fits all approach only works 10 to 15 per cent of the time and growers can save up to 80 per cent on their input costs by using LandScan. " Usually, the input savings covers the cost of the service, but an even larger return on investment results from giving the crop what it needs at the right place and time. " The yield improvement is the biggest return on investment because nobody can argue that you can maximise yield with one-size-fits-all’ management that doesn’ t match the crop variability.” While many growers take soil samples Dr Rooney said this doesn’ t provide the full picture of the soil environment. LandScan has been working with almond growers in California for the past three years, but the company has also provided services to vineyards, citrus and other nut industries.
ABA Nutrition workshops with Patrick Brown and LandScan demonstrations
Dr Dan Rooney with the LandScan digital probe in a citrus orchard.
These Nutrition Workshops aim to equip you with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to optimise nutrient management practices. Haifa and Stoller are once again supporting these events. In addition, pre-eminent almond researcher Patrick Brown will present on the role of biostimulants in almond nutrition and Dan Rooney will introduce LandScan, a new product enhancing on-farm decisionmaking. The technology appears to have groundbreaking characteristics for growers.
Riverina
June 24, 8:30am-4pm Click here to register.
Riverland
June 27, 8:30am-4pm Click here to register.
Topics covered:
• Almond tree requirements
• Nutrient balances
• Fertiliser formulations
• Supply chain
• Bio-stimulants
• Grower Experience
• New Ag Tech – LandScan
• LandScan demonstration
Sunraysia
June 26, 9am-12pm Click here to register.
Topics covered:
• Bio-stimulants
• New Ag Tech – LandScan
• LandScan demonstration.
32 In A Nutshell- Winter 2025 Vol 26 Issue 2