Best Nitrogen Management Practices Using Sensor-Based Smart Agriculture in Nursery Production of Cacao

Abstract

Reducing fertilizer costs and ensuring environmental sustainability are critical issues given the challenges posed by nutrient run-off. The use of smart technologies such as optical sensors is essential in achieving these goals. This study was conducted to determine the most efficient fertilizer regime based on chlorophyll content monitoring using optical sensor technology in cacao samplings in the nursery setting. The 8N-3P-9K (slow-released fertilizer) was used at 15 g (control), 15 g (supplemented with +15 g applied 2 times), 15 g (+15 g), 30 g (+15 g applied 2 times), 30 g (+15 g), and 45 g (+15 g applied two times). Chlorophyll content (measured using optical sensors such as soil plant analysis development (SPAD), atLEAF, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), plant height, number of leaves, total nitrogen of leachate samples, and the total nitrogen and total carbon contents of the leaf and soil samples were evaluated over six months. The results show that the lower application of nitrogen fertilizer can provide the necessary required nutrients of cocoa plants and cause less contamination via run-off. Using 45 g (+15 g applied 2 times) causes more pollution through nutrient run-off. This study demonstrates the importance of handheld sensor technology in determining the best nitrogen management practices in fruit nurseries to reduce excessive fertilization while decreasing the extra costs and mitigating environmental pollution.