Canada Environmental Technology Assessment for Agriculture Program Evaluation of Optical Sensor for Nitrogen Application on Corn (ON/QC) (2005-2008)

This project is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The optical sensor technology is being evaluated for Nitrogen side dress applications in corn in Ontario in Québec. OSCIA is collaborating with the University of Guelph, OMAFRA and AAFC to determine if the technology is economical, practical for our on-farm and has the potential to reduce N loading in the environment. The technology measures the greenness (chlorophyll) of the crop canopy to determine the adequate or required areas for Nitrogen on the go and applies N at a variable rate across the field. 2006 data has been collected in all of the Ontario and Québec sites and is being evaluated this winter. A final report of the 2nd year results will be prepared in March 2007.