Tru-Nject: Proximal soil sensing based variable rate application of subsurface fertiliser injection in vegetable/ combinable crops

Balancing the need to maintain a secure supply of safe nutritious food, whilst minimising environmental impacts caused during crop production, is a challenge requiring sophisticated solutions. Understanding variation in farmland soils is only part of the battle: precise management of that variation to stabilise crop yield, and reducing fertiliser inputs is the focus of the Tru-Nject system.The Tru-Nject project is a collaboration between Stockbridge Technology Centre, Manterra Ltd, and Cranfield University. It applies engineering and sensor solutions with satellite image data and unique fertiliser placement technology to assist farmers in making the best decisions for their business and the land on which we depend. Tru-Nject offers a synergy between multiple sources of efficiency: soil data, satellite data, GPS-autosteering and injection of fertiliser below the soil surface near the roots of a crop. By injecting fertiliser below ground, reduced levels of nitrous oxide gas released from nitrogen fertilisers may be attained, when compared with spreading fertiliser across the soil surface.