ICPA Conference Presentation Information
An important basis for adequate liming is the recording of the soil pH. Several studies indicated a large heterogeneity of soil pH within fields. Recent technological improvements facilitate an on-the-go determination of the soil pH in a much higher sampling density compared to the conventional, time-consuming and costly laboratory method. The Veris Soil pH Sensor allows georeferenced on-the-go mapping of the soil pH. However, the Veris Soil pH Sensor and the widely accepted laboratory method differ in their measuring principles. Hence, it is necessary to adjust the results of the pH sensor to the results of the laboratory method.
The economic potential of high resolution soil sampling strategies compared to the conventional soil sampling strategies is determined by four effects: the costs of applying the technology, the cost savings resulting from the reduction of over-fertilisation, the improved exploitation of phosphate (which will become plant-available due to small scale pH management) and the expected increase in yield (and thus revenues) resulting from a better lime distribution.