Digital Technology Farms: Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Margin

How combining data, sensors and variable rate nutrition is delivering measurable gains.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is central to both profitability and environmental performance. Through our Digital Technology Farm (DTF) initiative, we are bringing together new technologies to understand how they can improve decision making compared with traditional approaches.

First-year results at Revesby Estate in Lincolnshire are already demonstrating the potential. Across 400 hectares of winter wheat, margin improvements of more than £24,000 have been identified.

What is a Digital Technology Farm?

Our DTF initiative evaluates how multiple technologies work together in real farm conditions. The objective is straightforward: better decisions, improved efficiency and stronger margins.

Four Digital Technology Farm sites are now operating across the UK. At Revesby Estate, the focus has been on nitrogen management and disease forecasting.

How the technology works together

Above and below ground monitoring

• Skippy Scout drone AI system monitoring above-ground crop growth
• Plentysense nitrogen blades measuring N availability at 10cm, 20cm and 40cm
• Telemetry heads providing real-time soil nitrogen data
• Soiltech Wireless soil moisture and temperature sensors

The data from these systems feeds into Agrii’s Rhiza Contour platform, allowing nitrogen movement through the soil profile to be tracked and interpreted.

Disease risk forecasting

Hyperlocal disease prediction models are being introduced, based on risk factors and live data. Year two will include:

• Bayer CropCheck leaf verification
• Agrii disease risk ratings on Contour
• Live spore trapping
• AI disease identification
  
  

Nitrogen use efficiency results

A 40ha site split into 10 soil zones was used for comparison. Half was managed under standard farm practice. Half was managed using variable rate decisions informed by DTF technology.

Key findings

• Average NUE of 48% achieved on both halves
• Parts of the DTF side reached 58% NUE
• 6–24% nitrogen cost saving depending on soil zone
• £33.91/ha nitrogen efficiency improvement

While average NUE was similar, the DTF side achieved this with lower nitrogen spend. Yield is central to NUE calculation, so achieving comparable NUE with lower inputs demonstrates improved efficiency.

Across 400ha of wheat, nitrogen savings equated to £13,564. When combined with the SFI variable rate nutrition payment (£10,500), the overall benefit exceeded £24,000.

Fungicide programme lessons

First-year fungicide results were more nuanced. The DTF side reduced fungicide input costs by £8.65/ha, but yield was 1t/ha lower than farm standard practice.

Analysis suggests omission of Syngenta’s pydilflumetofen (Miravis Plus) was a contributing factor. Agrii trials show a consistent 1t/ha yield advantage from this active.

Year two adjustments will reflect this learning. The DTF programme is designed as a long-term commitment, with refinement built into the process.

Estate-wide adoption

Based on year one results, Revesby Estate has committed to:

• Estate-wide variable rate nitrogen
• Skippy Scout drone AI software
• Agrii Contour platform integration
• SFI PRF1 variable rate nutrition scheme
• No-till farming (SOH1)

Combined, PRF1 and SOH1 equate to £100/ha in support payments.

Supporting nitrogen efficiency further

The estate continues to evaluate urease and nitrification inhibitors such as Agri-Start Liquisafe. Trials have shown yield reductions of up to 50% where nitrogen protection technology was removed.

Early-stage biological products are also being explored to promote crop health and build green leaf area.

Why this matters for your business

Nitrogen use is one of the largest contributors to arable carbon footprint. It is also one of the largest variable costs.

The DTF initiative demonstrates that combining real-time soil data, crop monitoring and variable rate application can maintain NUE while reducing spend.

These findings are being shared across our wider network so that growers can adopt proven approaches regardless of scale or system.

If you would like to explore how digital tools could improve nitrogen efficiency or disease decision making on your farm, speak to your Agrii agronomist.