METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING AN AMOUNT OF NITROGEN-STABILIZING ADDITIVE

Abstract

A method for determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive selected from nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors, to be applied jointly or separately with a nitrogen containing fertilizer, comprising determining values of at least two parameters influencing the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive, determining an amount of nitrogen containing fertilizer that has been applied or is to be applied, determining the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive on the basis of said values of said at least two parameters and calculating the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied on the basis of said efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and of said amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer application. Furthermore, the method relates to an apparatus (1) for determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive.

Claims

1. A method for determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive selected from nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors, to be applied jointly or separately with a nitrogen containing fertilizer, comprising: (a) determining values of at least two parameters influencing the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive; (b) determining an amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that has been applied or is to be applied; (c) determining the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive on the basis of said values of said at least two parameters; and (d) calculating the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied on the basis of said efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and of said amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the time of an application or the time of an estimated application of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer is determined; and the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied is calculated on the basis of said efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and of said amount and time of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer application.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said parameters include two or more of soil temperature, soil clay content, soil sand content, soil pH, organic matter content of the soil, soil compaction, biological activity of soil, CEC (cation exchange capacity) and total nitrogen content of soil, nitrate and/or ammonium content of soil, type of cultivated plant, amount of precipitation, time of amount of precipitation, time interval until forecasted rainfall, forecasted rainfall quantity, wind strength, geographical position, and the time interval between nitrogen-containing fertilizer application and nitrogen-stabilizing additive application.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one value of said at least two parameters is provided by a user's input, by an automated access to a database (8) and/or by an automated measurement.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one value of said at least two parameters is provided by a forecast of a future value of this parameter.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: step (c) is carried out for nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors, and step (d) includes a recommendation whether a nitrification inhibitor, urease inhibitor or denitrification inhibitor is to be applied or no inhibitor is necessary.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said parameters include the soil temperature, and an increase in the soil temperature results in an increase of the calculated amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said parameters include a time interval until forecasted rainfall, and/or a forecasted rainfall quantity, and a decrease of the value of the time interval until forecasted rainfall and/or an increase of the value in the forecasted rainfall quantity results in an increase of the calculated amount of nitrification inhibitor to be applied, a decrease of the calculated amount of urease inhibitor to be applied and/or an increase of the calculated amount of denitrification inhibitor to be applied.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: said parameters include a soil clay content and/or a soil sand content, and an increase of the value of the soil clay content and/or a decrease of the value of the soil sand content results in an increase of the calculated amount of nitrification inhibitor to be applied, a decrease of the calculated amount of urease inhibitor to be applied and/or an increase of the calculated amount of denitrification inhibitor to be applied.

10. A method for controlling the application of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive on a field selected from nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors, to be applied jointly or separately with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, comprising the steps of: determining an amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that is to be applied on the field; determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive that is to be applied on the field by the method according to claim 1; and applying the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive in a ratio based on the determined amounts of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: dividing the field in local sectors; determining said values of said at least two parameters separately for at least two local sectors; determining the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that is to be applied on the field separately for said at least two local sectors; detecting a geographic position during said application of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and determining the present local sector in which the detected geographical position falls; and applying the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive in a ratio based on the determined amounts of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive for said determined present local sector.

12. An apparatus (1) for determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive selected from nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors, to be applied jointly or separately with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, comprising: an input unit (2) for determining values of at least two parameters influencing the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and for determining an amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that has been applied or is to be applied; an analyzing unit (10) coupled with the input unit (2) for determining the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive on the basis of said values of said at least two parameters; a calculation unit (11) coupled with the analyzing unit (10) for calculating the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied on the basis of said efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and of said amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer; and an output unit (12) coupled with the calculation unit (11) for outputting the calculated amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied.

13. An application system for applying a nitrogen-stabilizing additive selected from nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors comprising: an apparatus (1) according to claim 12; a first storage container (13) for storing said nitrogen-stabilizing additive; and a discharge unit (15) that is in data connection with said apparatus (1) and that is adapted to discharge said nitrogen-stabilizing additive from said first storage container (13) based on the calculated amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive.

14. The application system of claim 13, further comprising: a second storage container (20) for storing a nitrogen-containing fertilizer, wherein said discharge unit (15) comprises a first unit (14) for discharging said nitrogen-stabilizing additive from said first storage container (13) and a second unit (17) for separately discharging said nitrogen-containing fertilizer from said second storage container (20).

15. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 1.

Description

[0081] Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the drawings.

[0082] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus for determining an amount of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive according to the invention and

[0083] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the application system according to the present invention.

[0084] With reference to FIG. 1, the embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is described:

[0085] The apparatus 1 comprises an input unit 2. The input unit 2 is coupled to an entry unit 3. The user may input data via entry unit 3.

[0086] The input unit 2 is further coupled to a sensor 4. Sensor 4 may be adapted to detect values of any parameter that directly or indirectly influences the efficacy of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive. In the present case, sensor 4 detects the geographical position of the apparatus 1. For example, sensor 4 is a GPS sensor. In further embodiments, input unit 2 may be coupled to further sensors not shown in FIG. 1.

[0087] The input unit 2 further comprises an interface 5 for data transfer via the internet 6. The interface 5 may be any kind of known communication interface such as an interface for a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a telecommunication network.

[0088] By means of the interface 5, the apparatus can access remote sensors 7, an external database 8 as well as data providers 9. Remote sensors 7 may continuously detect values of parameters on the field. For example, external sensors 7 may detect the soil temperature, the soil pH, past amount and time of precipitation and actual wind strength.

[0089] The external database 8 may store data regarding the field and the crop that is grown on the field. For example, the external database 8 may comprise information as to the soil clay content, the soil sand content, soil pH, the organic matter content of the soil, soil compaction, biological activity of soil, CEC (cation exchange capacity) and total nitrogen content of soil, nitrate and/or ammonium content of soil, the type of cultivated plant, amount of precipitation, time of amount of precipitation, time interval until forecasted rainfall, forecasted rainfall quantity, wind strength and/or geographical position. Furthermore, the external database may comprise information as to the time interval between nitrogen-containing fertilizer application and nitrogen-stabilizing additive application. However, this information may also be input by the user by means of the entry unit 3.

[0090] By means of the data providers 9, the input unit 2 may access particularly forecasts of future values of parameters that are directly or indirectly relevant for the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive. For example, external data providers 9 may provide information as to the time interval until forecasted rainfall and forecasted rain quantity. Furthermore, data providers 9 may provide information as to forecasted temperatures at different locations.

[0091] The data provided by the remote sensors 7, the external database 8 and data providers 9 are transferred via the internet 6 and the interface 5 to the input unit 2, wherein these data are summarized with the data provided by sensor 4 and entry unit 3.

[0092] These data have in common that their values influence directly or indirectly the efficacy of a nitrogen-stabilizing additive that shall be applied to a field.

[0093] Furthermore, the input unit 2 determines an amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that has been applied or is to be applied. For this purpose, the input unit 2 may be coupled to a discharging unit for discharging the nitrogen-containing fertilizer in order to receive data as to the amount of such fertilizer that has been applied. Alternatively or in addition, the user may enter via entry unit 3 the type and amount of fertilizer that shall be applied. Furthermore, in this case, the user enters the presumptive time of application of such fertilizer.

[0094] The input unit 2 is coupled to an analyzing unit 10. The analyzing unit 10 determines the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive on the basis of the values of the parameters that have been determined by the input unit 2. It will be described later as to how the analyzing unit determines this efficacy.

[0095] The analyzing unit 10 is coupled to a calculation unit 11. The calculation unit 11 calculates the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied. This calculation is based on the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive as determined by the analyzing unit 10. Furthermore, the calculation takes the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that has been applied or that is to be applied into account. It will be described later as to how the amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive is calculated by the calculation unit 11.

[0096] The analyzing unit 10 and the calculation unit 11 are coupled to an internal database 19. The internal database 19 stores tables indicating the influence of several parameters on the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and the influence on the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive as it will be described later.

[0097] The calculation unit 11 is coupled to an output unit 12. The output unit 12 outputs the calculated amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied. The output unit 12 may be a display. Furthermore, the output unit 12 may comprise an interface in order to transfer data to a discharging unit of an application system as it will be described later.

[0098] The apparatus 1 may be integrated in a computer, in particular in a laptop, in a tablet computer or a smartphone.

[0099] In the following, an embodiment of the method of the present invention is described. The method may be carried out by the embodiment of apparatus 1 as described above.

[0100] In a first step, values of at least two parameters influencing the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive are determined. This step is carried out by the input unit 2 as described above. The parameters include two or more of soil temperature, soil clay content, soil sand content, soil pH, organic matter content of the soil, soil compaction, biological activity of soil, CEC (cation exchange capacity) and total nitrogen content of soil, nitrate and/or ammonium content of soil, type of cultivated plant, amount of precipitation, time of amount of precipitation, time interval until forecasted rainfall, forecasted rainfall quantity, wind strength, geographical position, and the time interval between nitrogen-containing fertilizer application and prospected nitrogen-stabilizing additive application.

[0101] In a second step, the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer that has been applied and/or that is to be applied is determined. This determination is carried out by receiving a user's entry or by a data transfer within an application system. In addition, the time of an application or the time of an estimated application of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer is determined.

[0102] In a third step, the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive is determined by analyzing unit 10 on the basis of the values of the parameters that have been determined in the first step. According to the embodiment, this third step is carried out for nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors separately.

[0103] In a fourth step, the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive to be applied is calculated by calculation unit lion the basis of the determined efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and the determined amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer application. This step may also include a recommendation whether a nitrification inhibitor, a urease inhibitor or a denitrification inhibitor or no inhibitor is to be applied. Furthermore, the calculation may take the time of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer application into account. Moreover, the calculation may take the temporal development of the values of one or more parameters into account.

[0104] In a fifth step, the calculating amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive may be output by a display or an interface.

[0105] In the following, it is described as to how the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive is determined on the basis of the values of the above-mentioned parameters and as to how the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive is calculated:

[0106] The analyzing unit 10 and the calculation unit 11 are coupled to the internal database 19 that stores tables indicating the influence of several parameters on the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and the influence on the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive. The values are stored separately for nitrification inhibitors, urease inhibitors and denitrification inhibitors.

[0107] The following Table 1 shows the influence of different weather conditions on the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of nitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Influence of weather Amount of nitrification Amount of nitrification conditions inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Temperature Warm (faster reduction of Cold (slighter reduction nitrification inhibitor) of nitrification inhibitor) Precipitation High (more nitrate is Low or non-existent (no leached) NO.sub.3 leaching) Time until Short (fast effect of Long (no or only slight precipitation nitrification inhibitor leaching of NO.sub.3) necessary) Wind strength High (possibly, gaseous Low or non-existent (no losses of nitrification gaseous losses of inhibitor) nitrification inhibitor)

[0108] The following Table 2 shows the influence of different weather conditions on the efficacy of urease inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of urease inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Influence of Amount of urease Amount of urease weather inhibitor inhibitor conditions is increased is decreased Temperature Warm (faster reduction of Cold (slighter reduction of urease inhibitor, higher urease inhibitor, smaller losses of NH.sub.3) losses of NH.sub.3) Precipitation Low or non-existent (no High (NH.sub.3 leaching into NH.sub.3 leaching into the soil) the soil, no NH.sub.3 losses) Time until Long (high NH.sub.3 losses, Short (small losses, since precipitation since no NH.sub.3 leaching) NH3 leaching) Wind strength High (gas balance Low or non-existent (no disturbed to the gaseous imbalance with disadvantage of the NH.sub.3 nitrogen emissions) losses)

[0109] The following Table 3 shows the influence of different weather conditions on the efficacy of denitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of denitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Amount of Amount of Influence of weather denitrification denitrification conditions inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Temperature Warm (faster reduction) Cold (smaller reduction of denitrification inhibitor) Precipitation High (enhances reducing Low or non-existent (no conditions) reducing conditions) Time until Short (enhances reducing Long (no reducing precipitation conditions) conditions for a long time) Wind strength Neutral (incorporated in Neutral (incorporated in the soil)/high the soil)/low

[0110] The following Table 4 shows the influence of different soil-related parameters on the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of nitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Soil-related Amount of nitrification Amount of nitrification parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Type of soil Clayey (less NO.sub.3 Sandy (better efficacy of leaching) nitrification inhibitor on sandy soils) pH value Neutral (negligible Neutral (negligible influence on nitrification influence on nitrification inhibitor activity) inhibitor activity) Organic matter High (nitrification inhibitor Low (nitrification inhibitor content of the soil is bound) is less bound) Biological activity High (faster reduction of Low (nitrification inhibitor nitrification inhibitor) is retained longer) Urease activity Neutral (no influence on Neutral (no influence on nitrification inhibitors) nitrification inhibitors) Nitrate content in Neutral Neutral the soil Soil compaction Neutral Neutral

[0111] The following Table 5 shows the influence of different soil-related parameters on the efficacy of urease inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of urease inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Soil-related Amount of urease Amount of urease parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Type of soil Sandy (lower cation Clayey (high cation exchange capacity) exchange capacity) pH value High (NH.sub.4/NH.sub.3 balance on Low (NH.sub.4/NH.sub.3 balance the part of NH.sub.3) on the part of NH.sub.4) Organic matter High (urease inhibitor is Low (less bonding of conten tof the bound, higher urease urease inhibitor, urease soil activity) inhibitor more mobile) Biological High (faster reduction of Low (urease inhibitor is activity urease inhibitor) retained longer) Urease activity High (resulting in high NH.sub.3 Low (resulting in small losses) NH.sub.3 losses) Nitrate content Neutral Neutral in the soil Soil compaction Neutral Neutral

[0112] The following Table 6 shows the influence of different soil-related parameters on the efficacy of denitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of denitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Soil-related Amount of denitrification Amount of denitrification parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Type of soil Clayey (more reducing Sandy (low risk of soil zones) compactions) pH value Neutral (influence not Neutral (influence not known) known) Organic matter Low (denitrification High (less bonding of content of the inhibitor is bound, smaller denitrification inhibitor, soil risk of compactions) higher risk of compaction) Biological High (faster reduction of Low (denitrification activity denitrification inhibitor) inhibitor is retained longer) Urease activity Neutral (no influence on Neutral (no influence on denitrification inhibitors) denitrification inhibitors) Nitrate content High (NO.sub.3 is origin of Low (NO.sub.3 is origin of in the soil denitrification losses) denitrification losses) Soil compaction Existent (formation of Non-existent (negligible or reducing zones) non-existent reducing zones)

[0113] The following Table 7 shows the influence of different cultivation parameter parameters on the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of nitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Cultivation Amount of nitrification Amount of nitrification parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Time of liming Neutral Neutral Crop residues Neutral Neutral Soil cultivation Neutral Neutral

[0114] The following Table 8 shows the influence of different cultivation parameters on the efficacy of urease inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of urease inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Cultivation Amount of urease inhibitor Amount of urease inhibitor parameter is increased is decreased Time of liming Comparatively recent (pH Comparatively long ago increasing) (pH rather lower) Crop residues Many (high urease Little (low urease activity) activity) Soil tillage Ploughless cultivation Regular ploughing (lower (more organic matter and urease activity) higher urease activity)

[0115] The following Table 9 shows the influence of different cultivation parameters on the efficacy of denitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of denitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Cultivation Amount of denitrification Amount of denitrification parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Time of Neutral to comparatively Neutral to comparatively liming long ago (liming results in recent better soil structure with less compactions) Crop Little (higher risk of Many (lower risk of residues compactions) compactions) Soil Regular ploughing Ploughless cultivation (low cultivation (“plough sole”) risk of soil compactions)

[0116] The following Table 10 shows the influence of fertilizer application parameters on the efficacy of nitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of nitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Amount of Amount of nitrification nitrification inhibitor inhibitor Fertilization parameter is increased is decreased Amount of fertilizer High (the more fertilizer, Low the higher the soil activity, the higher the need of nitrification inhibitor) Incorporation of fertilizer Neutral Neutral Urea ammonium nitrate Neutral Neutral solution/urea Other fertilizer Neutral Neutral containing NH4-N

[0117] The following Table 11 shows the influence of fertilizer application parameters on the efficacy of urease inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of urease inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 11 Fertilization Amount of urease Amount of urease parameter inhibitor is increased inhibitor is decreased Amount of fertilizer High (the more fertilizer, Low the higher the soil activity, the higher the need of urease inhibitor) Incorporation of No (losses are reduced) Yes fertilizer Urea ammonium Yes (urea is basis of No nitrate solution/urea urease inhibitor) Other fertilizer No recommendation No recommendation containing NH4-N

[0118] The following Table 12 shows the influence of fertilizer application parameters on the efficacy of denitrification inhibitors and whether a value of the parameter increases or decreases the necessary amount of denitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00012 TABLE 12 Amount of Amount of denitrification denitrification Fertilization inhibitor is inhibitor is parameter increased decreased Amount of fertilizer High (the more fertilizer, Low the higher the soil activity, the higher the need of nitrification inhibitor) Incorporation of Neutral Neutral fertilizer Urea ammonium Neutral Neutral nitrate solution/urea Other fertilizer Neutral Neutral containing NH.sub.4-N

[0119] In the following, an example will be given for the calculation of the amount of nitrification inhibitor:

[0120] As parameters, the soil temperature and rainfall is taken into account for the calculation of the necessary amount of nitrification inhibitor. It is assumed that the amount of nitrification inhibitor is calculated relative to a standard amount of nitrification inhibitor relative to a determined amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer. This standard amount is assumed to be 100.

[0121] If the amount of rainfall is high, more nitrification inhibitor is needed, if the amount of rainfall is low, less nitrification inhibitor is needed. Furthermore, if the temperature is high relative to a standard value, even more nitrification inhibitor is needed.

[0122] The following Table 13 shows the influence of the development of the temperature and the rainfall within the next ten days on the relative concentration of nitrification inhibitor that is to be applied jointly or separately with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer:

TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 13 Development of rainfall within the next 10 days 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 Development −20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 of temperature −15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 within the −10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 next 10 days −5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +/−0 0 0 100 100 105 105 110 110 115 5 0 0 100 100 105 105 110 110 115 10 0 0 102.5 105 110 110 115 115 120 15 0 0 107.5 110 120 120 125 125 130 20 0 0 115 120 125 125 130 130 135 25 0 0 130 135 135 135 140 140 150 30 0 0 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 35 0 0 200 225 250 275 300 325 350

[0123] According to a further embodiment, Table 13 may not only be two-dimensional, but multidimensional if further parameters are taken into account. For example, the soil clay content, the soil sand content, the soil pH, and the organic matter content of the soil may be considered.

[0124] In the following, an example will be given for the calculation of the necessary amount of a urease inhibitor based on at least two parameters:

[0125] In this case, the soil temperature and the wind strength are considered as main parameters. If the temperature is high, more urease inhibitor is needed, if the temperature is low relative to a standard temperature value, less urease inhibitor is needed. If, in addition, the wind is strong relative to a standard wind strength value, more urease inhibitor is needed, if there is little wind, less urease inhibitor is needed.

[0126] In addition, rainfall may be taken into account. Table 14 shows the influence of the development of the temperature within the next 10 days and the rainfall within the next 5 days on the relative concentration of urease inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 14 Development of rainfall within the next 5 days 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 Development −20 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 of temperature −15 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 within the −10 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 next 10 days −5 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 +/−0 100 100 100 100 100 105 110 115 0 5 100 100 100 100 105 110 120 0 0 10 100 100 102.5 105 110 115 0 0 0 15 105 105 107.5 110 120 130 0 0 0 20 110 110 115 120 125 0 0 0 0 25 120 125 130 135 0 0 0 0 0 30 150 175 200 225 0 0 0 0 0 35 200 250 275 300 0 0 0 0 0

[0127] Also this table may be multidimensional if wind strength as well as soil cultivation, organic matter content of the soil, soil pH and urease activity are considered in addition.

[0128] Furthermore, an example is given for the calculation of the necessary amount of denitrification inhibitor:

[0129] In this case, the main parameters that are taken into account by the calculation of the amount of denitrification inhibitor are rainfall as well as soil compaction. The following Table 15 shows the influence of the soil compaction and the rainfall within the next 5 days on the relative concentration of the denitrification inhibitor:

TABLE-US-00015 TABLE 15 Development of rainfall within the next 5 days 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 Soil compaction −/+0 100 100 105 105 110 110 115 115 120 (dry density g/cm.sup.3)  +2% 100 100 105 105 110 110 115 115 120 Deviation from  +4% 100 101 107 107 115 115 120 120 125 default value for  +6% 100 102 107 107 115 115 120 120 125 a soil (in %)  +8% 100 103 110 110 120 120 125 125 130 +10% 100 104 110 110 120 120 125 125 130 +12% 100 105 113 113 125 125 130 130 135 +14% 105 106 113 113 125 125 130 130 135 +16% 110 107 115 115 130 130 145 145 160 +18% 120 108 130 130 145 145 160 160 175 +20% 150 109 200 200 225 225 250 250 300 +25% 200 110 250 250 300 300 350 350 400

[0130] Also this table may be multidimensional if the type of soil, nitrate content, the biological activity of the soil and the type of soil cultivation (plough and the like) is considered.

[0131] According to a further embodiment, the field on which the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and the nitrogen-containing fertilizer are to be applied is to be divided into local sectors. In this case, the values of all of the parameters taken into account for the determination of the efficacy of the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and the calculation of the necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive are determined separately for at least two local sectors, in particular for all local sectors.

[0132] In this case, the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer is to be applied on the field separately for the local sectors. The method of this embodiment comprises the further step of detecting the geographical position during the application of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive. For example, sensor 4 is used. It is then determined in which local sector the detected geographical position falls. The nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive may then be applied in a ratio based on the determined amounts of the nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the nitrogen-stabilizing additive for the determined present local sector of the present geographical position.

[0133] With reference to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the application system for applying a nitrogen-stabilizing additive is described:

[0134] The application system comprises a discharging unit 15. This discharging unit 15 may be mounted on a vehicle that may travel over the field or may be attached to such vehicle. The discharging unit 15 comprises a first unit 14 and a second unit 17. Furthermore, the application system comprises a first storage container 13 for storing the nitrogen-stabilizing additive and a second storage container 20 for storing a nitrogen-containing fertilizer. The first unit 14 of the discharging unit 15 is designed to convey the nitrogen-stabilizing additive that is in particular liquid to a field sprayer 16 for spraying the liquid nitrogen-stabilizing additive on the field. Likewise, the second unit 17 of the discharging unit 15 is designed to convey the nitrogen-containing fertilizer that is solid from the second storage container 20 to a spreading device 18 for spreading the solid fertilizer on the field. The ratio of the amounts of nitrogen-stabilizing additive and nitrogen-containing fertilizer is calculated as described above. For this purpose, apparatus 1 as described above is coupled to the discharging unit 15 so that the determined amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizer as well as the calculated necessary amount of nitrogen-stabilizing additive is transferred to a control unit of the discharging unit 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0135] 1 apparatus [0136] 2 input unit [0137] 3 entry unit [0138] 4 sensor [0139] 5 interface [0140] 6 internet [0141] 7 remote sensors [0142] 8 external database [0143] 9 data providers [0144] 10 analyzing unit [0145] 11 calculation unit [0146] 12 output unit [0147] 13 first storage container [0148] 14 first unit [0149] 15 discharging unit [0150] 16 field sprayer [0151] 17 second unit [0152] 18 spreading device [0153] 19 internal database [0154] 20 second storage container