Course code LauZ5149

Credit points 4.50

Precision Agriculture II

Total Hours in Course120

Number of hours for lectures24

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes24

Independent study hours72

Date of course confirmation23.04.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developer

author Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Kaspars Kampuss

Dr. agr.

Course abstract

Principles of Precision Agriculture and their use in Horticulture – today’s achievements and future opportunities. Uses of GPS, GIS, sensors, variable-rate farming equipment etc. for differentiate plant cultivation procedures for intra- and inter-field variation. New, non-destructive quality control systems for growing, grading, storing and marketing horticultural produce. Advanced greenhouse horticulture – use of sensors, automatization, IT; energy-efficiency. Maximization of yield quantity and quality.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. In-depth knowledge of the principles of precision agriculture and their application in the production of high quality horticultural products in a modern company - lectures and seminars
2. Skills to evaluate the use of modern technologies in the production of horticultural products in relation to the type of production, the size and conditions of the enterprise, to plan various technologies of horticultural production, applying the latest scientific and technological achievements; to independently learn the latest information in the industry –individual work - seminar

3. Competences to understand and analyze scientific and professional information, to prepare presentations, to justify their decisions and to substantiate their opinion - seminar

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction. Principles of Precision Agriculture. Scattering of indicators - soil properties, yield, weeds etc. between and within fields, possibilities for its determination and application. Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). Resources needed for precision agriculture, conditions determining its usefulness on a particular farm. (3 hours)
2. Basics in mapping. Digital crops, soils, etc. map creation and mapping in GPS and GIS. Imaging and analysis. Acquisition and processing of aerial photography, satellite images and spectral analysis images for professional use. Their use in precision horticulture. Application of information characterizing scattering in crop care. Planning and execution of differentiated field work using GPS, GIS, imagery and precision farming techniques, taking into account yield scattering values. (3 hours)
3. Sensors for controlling ecological conditions of plants. Application of sensors to control ecological and soil factors. Temperature, soil moisture, conductivity, salt concentration, etc. sensors, their application for efficient and differentiated irrigation and the works. (3 hours)
4. Sensors in agricultural machinery. Application of real-time sensors in plant protection. Adjusting the airflow in the garden sprayer depending on the height and density of the tree crown. Dose adjustment of herbicide solution depending on weed density in the field. Differentiated plant fertilization. Fertilization dose differentiation options based on plant leaf color, density, etc., using sensors, aerial photography, mapping, etc. methods. (3 hours)
5. Plant and crop quality monitoring systems in the garden. Modern, non-destructive fruit quality, crown design, etc. monitoring systems in the garden. Laser scanning, imaging using visible light and infrared, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance and more. (3 hours)
6. Post-harvest quality control systems. Use of non-destructive quality control systems for sorting and quality control of fruits, vegetables and flowers during storage and marketing. Traceability of production. Using product traceability and feedback from the field block to the consumer and back in product quality control and GIS database creation. (3 hours)
7. Modern greenhouse horticulture. Use of IT, sensors and automation. Energy efficiency (3 hours)
8. Growing vegetables in modern covered areas. Maximizing yield quantity and quality. Vegetable growing opportunities for 12 months a year. Using a closed system - opportunities, benefits and challenges. (3 hours)
9. Floriculture in modern covered areas. "Conveyor" method for continuous flower production 12 months per year. Scheduled production (3 hours)
10. Precision fruit and berry production. Advances in precision horticulture, future opportunities and current limitations in fruit and berry production. (3 hours)
11. Precision field vegetable production. Advances in precision horticulture, future opportunities and current limitations in field vegetable production. (3 hours)

12. Precision plant production. Achievements of precision horticulture, future opportunities and current limitations in the production of fruit trees and shrubs, vegetables, ornamental woody and herbal plant production (3 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

An exam.

Students, who have successfully presented their presentation in the seminar, can pass the exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Each student prepares a presentation (research of scientific and professional literature) for a seminars on a topic agreed with the lecturer from the course content. The work is presented to the student group at the seminar. Approximate length of presentation is 30 minutes. The student should be able to answer questions, discuss the topic and justify his / her opinion.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the exam mark (50%) and the mark from the seminar during the semester (50%).

Compulsory reading

1. Srinivasan A. (2006). Handbook of Precision Agriculture Principles and Applications. London: Oxford. 683 p. ISBN-13: 978-1-56022-954-4
2. Precision horticulture:(towards value addition and marketing) /S.K. Acharya [et al.]. Udaipur : Agrotech Publishing Academy, 2012, 248 p.
3. Augļkopība. Red. L. Ikase. Dobeles novads: LV Augļkopības institūts, 2015. 544 lpp.
4. Temperate and subtropical fruit production. D. I. Jackson, N. E. Looney (ed.). 2nd edition. UK: CABI Publishing, 2006. 332 p.
5. Wills R.B.H., McGlasson W.B., Graham D., Joyce D.C. Postharvest. An introduction to the physiology and handling of fruit, vegetables and ornamentals. 5th edition. UK: CABI Publishing, 2007. 227 p

6. Modern technology in vegetable production (2011)/ed. by P. Hazra. Pitam Pura, New Delhi : New India Publishing Agency,413

Further reading

1. Stūrmanis E. Ģeoinformācijas sistēmas. Jelgava: LLU, RTU, 2005. 91 lpp
2. Vilde A., Ruciņš Ā., Viesturs D. (2008). Globālās pozicionēšanas tehnoloģijas lauksaimniecībā. Jelgava: LLU. 47 lpp.
3. Verma R. Innovative technology in horticulture science. New Delhi : Lakshya Sahitya, 2011. p. 269.
4. Strautiņa S., Kalniņa I. 2019. Avenes un to audzēšana. Rīga: Jumava,
5. Skrīvele M., Rubauskis E., Strautiņa S. 2011. Augļu koku un ogulāju veidošana. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 96.lpp.
6. Valero, Daniel. Postharvest biology and technology for preserving fruit quality [elektroniskais resurss] / Daniel Valero and Maria Serrano. Boca Raton, Fla. : Taylor & Francis Group, 2010. 287 p.
7. An International Journal on Advances in Precision Agriculture. Available from 1999 till 2019. ISSN: 1385-2256
8. Book of Abstracts of all the posters. The 12th European Conference on Precision Agriculture. July 8 - 11, 2019, Montpellier: France. 203 p. ISBN 978-2-900792-49-0
9. Burrough P. A., McDonnell R. A., Lloyd C. D. (2015). Principles of Geographical Information Systems. Third edition. Oxford University press. 352 p.
10. Stafford J. V. (2013). Precision agriculture ’13. Conference Proceedings. 824 p. ISBN 978-90-8686-224-5
11. Stafford J. V. (2015). Precision agriculture ’15. Conference Proceedings. 752 p. ISBN 978-90-8686-267-2

12. Stafford J. V. (2019). Precision agriculture ’19. Conference Proceedings. 1030 p. ISBN 978-90-8686-337-2

Periodicals and other sources

1. ISHS izdevums "Acta Horticulturae" ISSN: 0567-7572 http://www.actahort.org/
2. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences. brīvpieejas informācijas avots: https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/prolas-overview.xml?tab_body=overview un konkrēti 2017. gada 71. sējums Nr. 3: https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/71/3/prolas.71.issue-3.xml
2013. gada 67. sējums Nr.2: https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/prolas/67/2/prolas.67.issue-2.xml
3. Zinātniski praktisko konferenču “Līdzsvarota Lauksaimniecība” rakstu krājumi, kas ir brīvpieejas informācijas avots:
http://www.lf.llu.lv/lv/lidzsvarota-lauksaimnieciba
4. “Profesionālā Dārzkopība” - e-žurnāls brīvpieejas informācijas avots: http://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/profesionala-darzkopiba
5. Žurnāls „Agrotops” ISSN 1407-5164
6. Fruit Quarterly - e-žurnāls brīvpieejas informācijas avots http://nyshs.org/fruit-quarterly/past-issues/

7. Obstbau - https://www.obstbau.org/

Notes

Compulsory Course in academic master study program “Agriculture” specialization in Horticulture.