Advance Technologies

NASA’s Refined Technique
Helps Farmers

Scientists at the Global Hydrology and Climate Center at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) are collaborating with university researchers to apply remote sensing technology developed for the space program to a sophisticated agricultural technique to help improve crop management and increase profitability.

The technique, called precision farming, could mean the difference between "boom" and "bust" for American farmers in the new millennium because the availability of inexpensive agricultural products for consumers in the next century could depend on such capabilities. In precision farming, growers break fields down into regions, or "cells," analyzing growth characteristics of each cell and improving crop health and yield by applying precise amounts of seed, fertilizer and pesticides as needed. Traditionally, farmers fertilized their crops, simply by spreading it uniformly across the entire field.

Another societal benefit is preventing excess nitrogen leakage into groundwater, according to Paul Mask, professor of agronomy at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. "Other fertilizers can increase pollution problems, threatening public health. By adding only the amount of fertilizer the land and the crop can effectively use, we can reduce such problems."

"We can point to areas that will always have low yield," adds Mask. "If the maximum capability of an area is 50 bushels an acre, there is no need to fertilize for 120 bushels. It does no good. The true potential is not simply improving yield," Rickman agrees. "It’s improving stewardship of the land."

Remote sensing is the gathering of data for analysis by instruments that are not in physical contact with the objects of investigation, commonly via planes or orbiting satellites. Remote sensing is used to measure electromagnetic radiation, including the thermal energy that is reflected or emitted in varying degrees by all natural and synthetic objects, such as crops.

"Farmers have sought this ability for 30 years," said Doug Rickman, lead researcher for the Global Hydrology and Climate Center.When NASA began studying precision agriculture techniques in the 1970s, the practice was hampered by researchers’ inability to accomplish precise mapping plant quality and soil makeup. Measuring yield was also inconvenient, time-consuming and often imprecise, sending soil samples to a lab, and waiting days or weeks for the results.

The advent of global positioning systems and remote sensing technology changed all that. "Now farmers can intelligently control their systems," Rickman says, "before they ever plant a seed."

"We’re seeking to provide a system that will help farmers improve the efficiency of their fields and their crop management techniques," Rickman said. "In the end, that will benefit everyone."