Kverneland PUDAMA
PUDAMA ensures high yields in row crops with reduced input and environmental impact.
Highlights
Save 25% starter fertiliser with 100% yield Utmost precision and efficiency Sustainable farming system
“Key for farming now and in the future is to reduce the environmental and climate impact of how we produce and consume food. With PUDAMA, we can save 25% of the starter fertiliser. That means it does not go into the soil and it is not washed out. At the same time, we are talking about saving 81,000 tonnes of fertiliser per year in Germany, fertiliser which does not even have to be produced."
Description
Farmers are currently faced with challenges which are not easy to reconcile at first glance. On the one hand the costs for fertiliser have risen exponentially and resources are limited. Still, healthy plant growth is the basis for a successful yield and safe food production. At the same time, the protection of the environment has become a key topic of today’s agriculture.
Due to the risk of contaminated groundwater and local over-fertilisation with organic fertilisers, recent European regulations, rules and policies have defined new standards and reduced the kinds of components allowed.
THE KVERNELAND PUDAMA SYSTEM SOLUTION
With PUDAMA the amount and location of the fertiliser is precisely defined. The nutrients are exactly deposited where the roots of the grain can reach it and only as much as needed. In this way, loss and leaching is avoided. Thus also the production of fertiliser raw materials could be reduced. In brief, PUDAMA is increasing the efficiency in the use of mineral starter fertiliser in maize – thus maintaining 100% yield whilst saving at least 25% starter fertiliser.
The PUDAMA system has been incorporated in the Optima TFprofi with SX high speed row.
Features
The Kverneland PUDAMA system solution
Fertilisation ensures the supply of nutrients to the crop, but over-fertilisation often has undesirable effect on the environment and the ecosystem of the land.
How to keep the balance?
Conventional band application places a continuous band of fertiliser also between the plants, where the roots cannot reach it. This is the amount of fertiliser simply wasted and washed out.
Kverneland PUDAMA
With PUDAMA the amount and location of the fertiliser is precisely defined. The nutrients are only deposited where the roots of the grain can reach it and only as much as needed. Synchronised with the seed application at high speeds, a cloud of fertiliser is placed by an air stream below and sidewards to the seed during seeding process. Every seed has an optimal fertiliser depot at its disposal which is completely absorbed by the plants. In this way, loss and leaching is avoided and the production of fertiliser raw materials can also be reduced. In brief, PUDAMA is increasing the efficiency in the use of mineral starter fertiliser in maize – thus maintaining 100% yield whilst saving at least 25% starter fertiliser.
PUDAMA, has been developed by Kverneland Group Soest GmbH in recent years in cooperation with the TH Cologne, Institute for Construction and Agricultural Machinery Technology of Cologne. For your reference, the results of these studies have been published here in English and German. Further tests and trials have been carried out under the various conditions all over Europe.
THE RESULTS
The PUDAMA system ensures the reduction of at least 25% of fertiliser compared with the continuous application of fertiliser - whilst maintaining 100% yield. With technology such as the Kverneland Optima TFprofi SX PUDAMA precision drill, farmers can save a lot by reducing fertiliser, transport and work costs. For example, if a farmer with 300ha of maize uses 150kg/ha DAP 18-46 in the conventional way, he would save 37.5kg/ha of fertiliser with the PUDAMA system. This means a saving of 7,875€* for 300ha.