Internship experiences Koen Laemers en Joost Rovers

Graduation project Koen Laemers and Joost Rovers

In the period February - July 2013 we carried out a graduation project to conclude the Horticulture and Arable Farming program at HAS Hogeschool in 's-Hertogenbosch. The graduation project focused entirely on the theme of precision agriculture.

Commissioned by ZLTO, we have prepared three functional designs for precision farming applications (apps). Together with Jacob van den Borne, we brainstormed and designed useful apps for the farmer. Apps that function on the basis of an average database, so that a large group of farmers can use them.

In addition, on behalf of arable farm Van den Borne, we conducted practical and literature research into the:

• Soil sensors EM38 MK2 and the Veris;
• Top dressing with mineral concentrate in potato cultivation;
• Influence of the dry matter content and the pre-treatment of seed potatoes on the after cultivation;
• Influence of a variable planting distance on the salable yield of potatoes.

Unfortunately, the cold and wet weather continued for a long time in the spring of 2013. As a result, only a small number of crop measurements could be carried out in the field trials. That is why we spent a lot of time on soil sensing and literature research. A lot of in-depth information has been produced for the website https://www.vandenborneaardappel.com/ and the Wiki precision agriculture http://precisielandbouw.groenkennisnet.nl/.

At Van den Borne potatoes we have been able and allowed to learn a lot about soil sensing. Simply do it yourself: calibrate the soil sensor, drive on RTK – GPS, transfer data from the vehicle to the PC and then visualize and analyze the measured values ​​with geosoftware. And not only at the farm at Van den Borne, but also at fellow arable farmers and even at the school farm of CAH Dronten! That has resulted in nice experiences and a larger network. Jacob van den Borne was always in the background to assist us where necessary.

During the "Day on the farm, precision farming simplified", Jacob van den Borne gave us space on the agenda to present our graduation project. We were very impressed by the general public and the interest. It was a nice ending to the training.
 
On the photo: Koen Laemers (left) and Joost Rovers (right) at the bottom sensor EM38 MK2. In the background a tractor equipped with Reichardt's ISOBUS-compatible straight-ahead system. The Veris soil sensor hangs behind the tractor.