The nursery stock industry is in the middle of a digital revolution. Where experience and craftsmanship used to be the most important pillars, now, data and technology are becoming increasingly more important. Precision agriculture, using sensors, drones, and advanced software, makes it possible to make decisions on irrigation, fertilisation, and crop protection per tree or plot. These developments do not only promise more efficiency, but also a more sustainable cultivation. The KwekersBode decided to look into it: what is currently being developed when it comes to precision agriculture, and where can we see this in practice?

Research program Precision Agriculture 4.0

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) plays a leading role in the development of precision agriculture within the tree nursery industry. Their research program ‘Precision Agriculture 4.0’ focuses on integrating advanced technologies such as GPS, sensors, and drones to optimise crop management. This allows growers to make decisions at the plant level, leading to more efficient use of resources and more sustainable cultivation practices.

WUR expert Corné Kempenaar: “Precision agriculture offers the possibility to produce more with fewer resources, which is essential for the sustainable future of agriculture.” By combining traditional knowledge with modern technology, growers can better respond to the specific needs of their crops and the soil conditions of their plots. WUR’s research highlights that the use of precision techniques, such as soil scans and sensors, not only increases efficiency but also contributes to the sustainability of the cultivation. Through accurate data analysis, growers can take targeted actions, such as adjusting irrigation schedules or detecting diseases in time, leading to healthier and more productive crops. The collaboration between knowledge institutions like WUR and companies like Syngenta illustrates the power of integrating science and practice. By jointly investing in research and technology, they can help the tree nursery industry become more efficient, sustainable, and future-proof.

INTERRA® Scan as a tool for ground cultivation

Maurice Kok, crop advisor at Syngenta Crop Protection, is particularly enthusiastic about the INTERRA® Scan as an essential tool for growers in the ornamental horticulture and tree nursery industries. This advanced soil scanning technology provides in-depth insights into soil conditions, including parameters such as pH, organic matter, nutrients, and water retention capacity. With over 800 measurement points per hectare, the scan helps growers accurately map variations within their plots.

Kok explains: “With the INTERRA® Scan, you can accurately map soil variation, such as macro/micro-nutrients, organic matter, and available water. This gives you all the data you need to optimise soil health in the long term.” By using this detailed soil data, growers can take targeted measures, such as variable application of fertilisers and selecting suitable tree species for specific soil conditions. This not only leads to more efficient use of resources but also to a more sustainable and healthier cultivation practice.

Log & Solve dashboard for substrate

While INTERRA® Scan focuses on soil analysis, Log & Solve focuses on substrate. Log & Solve, originally developed by Klasmann-Deilmann and since November 2024 owned by 30MHz from Rotterdam, has established itself as a leading digital platform for crop registration and management. Log & Solve offers growers a comprehensive dashboard where various cultivation data are collected and analysed. From sensor measurements to lab analyses and cultivation actions, the platform allows users to monitor and adjust their cultivation processes accurately. This data-driven approach leads to more efficient and sustainable cultivation methods.

Gerard Flinterman, who leads the Log & Solve team, emphasises how important this is: “It has become clear in recent times that delivery reliability is the most important value for growers. This means reliable, timely delivery of the right quality. Using the crop registration program, users can better manage their cultivation towards delivery reliability.”

Example: Mabo Boomkwekerijen and data-driven cultivation

Mabo Boomkwekerijen, located in Randwijk, is a pioneer in precision farming. Under the leadership of Niels Mauritz, who runs the company together with his father, technology is used to monitor and improve soil health. Niels Mauritz emphasises the importance of soil scans to gain insights into soil composition. While traditional knowledge remains valuable, the data supports the grower’s intuition. “My intuition backed up with data,” he summarises. Mabo Boomkwekerijen uses sensors, such as those from Aquafeed, to measure the suction tension of the soil. These data are used to create task maps for spreading compost and manure, enabling precise and efficient fertilisation. “You need to plan ahead,” notes Niels, as processing the scans takes several weeks. A concrete example of this approach is the variable application of compost based on the scanned soil data. In areas with a low organic matter content, more compost was applied to improve soil quality.

“We applied only 20 tons per hectare. Where the organic matter content was low, we made quite a serious variation,” says Sven van Kalkeren, who works on behalf of Niels Mauritz at Mabo Boomkwekerijen. Additionally, the soil maps are used to determine which tree species are best suited for specific parts of the plot, considering factors such as soil heaviness and moisture. Although the use of drones and advanced sensors offers potential, Niels acknowledges that the diversity of tree species in their nursery makes it difficult to work fully data-driven. “If you have 150 species, you need 150 sensors to specifically manage everything with data,” Niels explains. Nevertheless, he foresees that the role of data and technology will increase in the future, with the goal of achieving healthier and more sustainable cultivation. Sven van Kalkeren sees a growing role for precision farming in the future, especially considering the increasingly stringent fertiliser legislation and the need to manage resources more efficiently. “Soil is the foundation, I always say. So, you need to do something with it for those five years, and that’s possible with precision farming,” he emphasises. “And the possibilities are getting better.”

Data and technology in the tree nursery: the future vision?

The integration of data and technology in the nursery stock is not a temporary trend, but a lasting development. Does this mean there will only be room for precision farming in the future? Probably not. Growers who open themselves up to innovation and are willing to invest in knowledge and resources may have an advantage when facing the challenges of the future. By cleverly combining traditional expertise with modern technology, they can strengthen their business and contribute to a more sustainable industry. At the same time, of course, it is not the only way. This integration of technology into the nursery stock industry primarily shows that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. Mabo Boomkwekerijen is an example of how traditional knowledge combined with modern technology can lead to future-proof and efficient cultivation.