THE BENEFIT GIS TECHNOLOGIES AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES IN SOIL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION

Abstract

The paper discusses the benefit of applying precision agriculture practices and GIS in soil nutrient management for agri cultural crop production. As a case study the soil variability of Macedonia’s largest agricultural producer ZK Pelagonija AD is taken as an example. The company is mapping out the soil variability of its land by way GIS technologies. Soil nutrient information from the fields’ shows the existence of significant nutrient variability within the production units (parcel of land). Conclusions from the analysis point that the use of advanced GIS soil sampling and soil nutrient management, will lead the company to increased yields, reduced fertilizer costs and better management of the environmental impact of intensive agri culture practices.