Advanced Sensing Technology for Improving Nutrient Management in Barley

A priority for the barley sector from production into the whole supply chain is to become more efficient in use of agronomic resources. A major goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from barley farming. This BARIToNE CTP project builds on past research by combining crop nutrition studies with crop monitoring with sensors to help farmers use fertilizers more efficiently.

The project aims to use sensors to track how barley absorbs nutrients and adjust fertilizer use accordingly. The idea is that special sensors can detect when crops need more or less fertilizer, helping farmers reduce waste, save money, and protect the environment.

The research focuses on three key areas:

1. Reducing waste and nutrient loss.

2. Using fertilizers more efficiently.

3. Applying fertilizers to the crop when it needs it.

The study began in 2023 with an experiment testing different nitrogen levels on barley. The best result from this experiment helped design the 2024 experiment, which looked at different timings and split applications of nitrogen. The final experiment, planned for Spring 2025, will repeat the 2024 experiment to confirm the findings.

In each experiment, regular measurements of the plant health by checking leaf colour (chlorophyll), light absorption (fluorescence), herbage, grain yield, and grain number. Additionally, the grain properties important for malting and distilling, including nitrogen and protein levels, size, and strength were measured. This research will help farmers grow better barley with less environmental impact.