NavigateEco Solutions (NESL) is a joint venture business comprising of software development and agronomic expertise in soil and nutrient systems. NESL provides technical input to the development of the national AHDB nutrient recommendation system (RB209) and has experience in developing alternative algorithms (to RB209) describing the optimal Nitrogen requirements and timings to cereals and oilseed crops.
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NESL has developed a dedicated Nutrient Management system called NavigatePro; a quick and simple way of producing nutrient plans and compliance records for farmers. The software connects to the AHDB RB209 API (application programme interface) and means that the nutrient recommendations generated are always based on the latest science. The system caters for all crops including grass and livestock systems, which are generally under serviced with digital solutions
In previous collaborations with Hill Court Farm Research, NESL personnel contributed to the development of the soil nitrogen analysis test, which is being developed in the NUE Profits project to improve its predictions of soil nitrogen supply. Previous projects spanned more than 20 years of research and development, all of which were focussed on the better use of nitrogen and its soil supply in arable cropping.
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NESL are contributing an automated digital nutrient management solution, called FOT (Fertiliser Optimiser Tool) to enhance the NavigatePro software and other digital services developed in the project. The tool is designed to raise the NUE effectiveness of a basic nutrient management plan (NMP) to a level where the benefits of other sensory technologies [canopy and soil] can have a real multiplier effect. Remote sensing data, such as canopy biomass, in combination with a better estimate of spring soil nitrogen, and soil nitrogen mineralisation rate will improve the estimate of Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) from which nitrogen recommendations are based.
A more precise SNS estimate results in a more accurate crop nutrient requirement from which product choice can be optimised via the optimiser tool by best matching crop nutrient requirement with more appropriate fertiliser analyses. The fertiliser options generated via FOT will rank products based on their GHG intensities, ammonia loss and risk of excess phosphate and nitrate. The FOT output will also adjust product ranking if organic sources of nitrogen are planned as part of crop nutrient supply and the tool will account for their GHG and ammonia contributions. This information will provide a solid baseline from which NUE improvements actions can be adopted by the farmer.
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