The soil analysis report generated by an AgroCares scanner is available from the farmer’s phone within minutes of the test, and the farmers receive precise recommendations regarding mineral requirements of each part of their land. Using that information, the farmer can quickly decide which fertilizers manufactured by Grupa Azoty need to be applied to supply the missing nutrients in the soil. To compare, the traditional soil testing requires taking and sending soil samples to external laboratories, which may take even a few weeks to analyse the samples and send back the results. The scanners used by Grupa Azoty make it possible to perform nutrient testing directly on the field, with the farmer’s participation.

‘We performed over 1,500 soil tests last year alone. Farmers were pleased with how fast we could support them in their daily work. As a consequence, we were receiving a growing number of enquiries. The system has proven itself after the implemented improvements, and starting today the service is available free of charge to our customers across all regions in Poland. The successful pilot programme demonstrates innovation is integral to Grupa Azoty’s business and that only essential nutrients are applied to the soil thanks to our precision farming systems – and this fits into the concept of the European Green Deal,’ said Grzegorz Kądzielawski, Vice President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.

Fast soil testing is appreciated particularly by farmers oriented towards innovative precision agriculture tools, focused on maximising crop yields, who need to know the basic physical and chemical properties of the soil to increase productivity.

‘Helping farmers in their daily work to increase crop yields is a primary goal of our operations. It’s not just about recommending the right fertilizer product for a particular soil type but also about sharing knowledge that was not available only a few years ago, such as fast soil nutrient analysis and real-time satellite crop monitoring with the use of Grupa Azoty’s dedicated SatAgro service. Comprehensive fertilizer consulting services are a cornerstone of our business,’ concluded Tomasz Hinc, President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty S.A.

The soil fertility reports inform farmers of such soil properties as pH, organic matter content, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and soil temperature, to name a few. Fertilizer recommendations are also provided based on the analysis results, specifying which fertilizer product from Grupa Azoty’s broad portfolio should be applied and at what dose to increase crop yields. Grupa Azoty supports farmers in Poland by promoting precision agriculture and offering a satellite crop monitoring service to its customers. The SatAgro service referred to above uses automatically processed data from satellites operated by NASA, the European Space Agency, and private operators. With a mobile or fixed application, users can monitor the current status of their crops, have access to meteorological data, but above all can plan the right fertilisation strategy, thus maximising financial performance of their farms. Application maps can be uploaded to GPS-fitted agricultural machines, which enables precise fertilizer application, reducing agrochemicals use by 15%, generating efficiency gains and increasing harvest volumes and their quality. All this helps to protect the environment and properly address the challenges of the European Green Deal, aiming to make EU economies climate-neutral.