What is digital agriculture

Digital agriculture is a modern agricultural development model integrating agricultural science, earth science, environmental science, information technology, automation technology, digital communication and network technology. Through digital design, visual expression and intelligent control of agricultural processes before, during and after production, digital agriculture achieves the goal of precise seed selection, precise seeding, precise fertilization, precise irrigation, dynamic monitoring and timely adjustment.

Great progress has been made. The methods of data decision-making, command, production and marketing guidance, and management services are gradually applied and promoted in many fields in China, effectively opening up the closed-loop of data collection, analysis, and application of the entire agricultural industry chain, improving the level of intelligent production and network management of agriculture, and achieving initial results in agricultural Digital transformation.

At present, there are many phenomena in China’s agricultural production, such as severe excessive application of fertilizers, extreme shortage of specialized fertilizers, and improper fertilization methods. In agricultural production in China, the phenomenon of flood irrigation and fertilization is very common, and farmers are accustomed to the management mode of “flood irrigation and fertilization with water”. The investment in irrigation water and fertilizers far exceeds the actual demand of crops.

These phenomena not only lead to low fertilizer utilization and production efficiency, but also lead to a series of serious problems such as changes in soil pH value, secondary salinization, decreased organic matter content, enrichment of nitrate nitrogen and available phosphorus, accumulation of heavy metals, and excessive nitrate levels in groundwater. The development, promotion, and widespread application of intelligent water and fertilizer integration technology is an important way and lever to achieve China’s transformation from an agricultural powerhouse to an agricultural powerhouse.