The first Nitrogen Index app for mobile devices: Using portable technology for smart agricultural management

• Published in: Computers and electronics in agriculture 2013-02, Vol.91, p.121-123
• Main Authors: Delgado, Jorge A, Kowalski, Kevin, Tebbe, Caleb
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agricultural land; agricultural management; agroecosystems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; App; best management practices; Biological and medical sciences; computer software; computers; costs and returns; environmental impact; farmers; food security; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Analysis and diagnosis methods; Internet; nitrogen; nitrogen fertilizers; Nitrogen Index; Nutrient management; nutrient use efficiency; Portable agricultural technology; risk; risk assessment; Smartphone; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Tablet; technology transfer; USDA
• ISSN: 0168-1699; 1872-7107
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compag.2012.12.008

Nitrogen fertilizer from organic and inorganic sources is used across the world’s agroecosystems. It contributes to higher yields and higher economic returns to farmers, and is essential for food security. However, when more is applied than necessary, significant amounts of nitrogen can exit the system and impact the environment. Appropriate nitrogen management, where the right amounts of nitrogen are applied and best practices are used to ensure higher use efficiency, is important for conservation. A recent study from the USDA reported that about 66% of US cropland was not meeting all of three best management practices for nitrogen: best rate, best time of application, and best method of application (http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err127.aspx). Nitrogen tools can help us assess the risk of nitrogen losses from a field to the environment and increase nitrogen use efficiencies (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep11/nitrogen0911.htm). We need quick and mobile nitrogen management risk assessment tools that can be carried to the field and elsewhere. The first smartphone/tablet application (or “app”) of the Nitrogen Index was released on February 26th, 2012. A PC® version¹ of the Nitrogen Index, which can be used on PC desktop and laptop computers, is also available, so users can email the results from their Nitrogen Index app developed for smartphones/tablets in the field to their computer back at the office (or a farmer’s or consultant’s computer) using their portable device’s internet service. The Nitrogen Index smartphone/tablet application can be downloaded at no cost from the Google Play™ website (https://play.google.com/store) to any phone that has the Android™ system. To find the application, the user simply needs to do a search at the Google Play website using “Nitrogen Index” as the search term. This new advancement in portable technology will enable the use of small devices such as smartphones to conduct an assessment on site and visit with a farmer at any given field site where a wireless connection is available. The Nitrogen Index is a quick tool, and its assessments of nitrogen loss risk are correlated with observed values. This is the first Nitrogen Index app in the world and it is the beginning of more advances to come in the field of portable agricultural technology. New advances in software (e.g., apps) and technology are bringing us to a new frontier of technology transfer, and portable technologies (e