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Wednesday, 19 August 2026 in
BC1 Business Channel One
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Agriculture

Digital Farming NHN, from soil maps to algorithms

🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL

Data processing in Digital Farming NHN, from soil map to algorithm

In this second installment of the Digital Farming NHN series, the focus is on data processing. What information is being collected? And what happens to it afterward? The answers to these questions are crucial for the practical application of precision agriculture.

Digital soil maps and task maps as the foundation

One of the most important data sources in the project are soil maps and task maps. These provide the foundation for the precise application of fertilizers and crop protection products. The company RH3S plays a key role in this process. Using advanced sensor technology, they conduct soil research and generate detailed soil maps.

Explaining the digital soil mapsWhat makes this especially valuable is that the collected data can be immediately translated into task maps, digital instructions that enable agricultural machinery to operate in a targeted and efficient manner. In this part of the series, Eddie Loonstra from RH3S explains how this process works and what advantages it offers for sustainable agriculture.

Inholland university of applied sciences and the power of algorithms

Kristel van AmmersThe education sector is also actively involved in Digital Farming NHN. Kristel van Ammers, lecturer and researcher at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, supervises students working on the development of algorithms for the project. She highlights the importance of aligning this technology with the farmer’s needs. What does a grower expect from an algorithm? And how user-friendly should it be?

Michael Bultema, a Mathematical Engineering student, is developing an algorithm to detect weeds. At the Robotics Lab in Alkmaar, in the Netherlands, he demonstrates his progress and underscores the importance of high-quality image data in training and optimizing these algorithms.

A series of practical insights and field experiences

Screen showing the algorithm detecting weedsThis article is part of a broader series showcasing the Digital Farming NHN project. In the first part, flower bulb grower Stef Ruiter, Sander Dekker from Agrotheek, and Pieter Vlaar from Vertify shared their insights into the opportunities of precision agriculture.

More information about sustainability in agriculture

In the report Journey to sustainable cultivation of flower bulbs, alternatives for combating certain diseases are explored, as well as whether methods that work on a small scale can also be successful on a larger scale.

Also interesting:
Digital Farming – part 1 the challenge
Digital Farming – part 3 applying site-specific techniques
Digital Farming – part 4 achievements and future prospects
Natural farming helps biodiversity

Frequently asked questions

This is a short summary of the film. Watch the video above for the full story.

How is a soil map created?
A soil sensor measures the soil, after which the data is processed and calibrated using soil samples. Software then converts the values into a map in which each color marks a zone with a numerical value, for example dark blue for values between 200 and 205 and deep orange between 240 and 245. From this data a property such as the organic matter content can be derived, which can be used to determine the amount of product to apply.
How do you measure the soil with a gamma sensor?
A passive gamma sensor measures the natural radioactivity that the soil gives off by itself. Soil is slightly radioactive by nature and that is the radiation we live in every day. The sensor is mounted on the front of a sprayer or on a quad bike and covers 6 to 10 hectares an hour, depending on driving speed. Passes are 10 to 12 metres wide, driving narrower adds little. It quickly shows whether the soil is sand or clay and how the proportions are distributed.
Which data comes together to steer the sprayer?
Four sources come together, the camera image, the soil, the climate and the planting registration scheme, which shows which variety stands at which GPS point in the field. At the university of applied sciences in Alkmaar those data come together, and each grower is asked what information they want to get out of it.
What is the difference between a soil map and a task map?
A soil map shows how the field is put together: where the ground is heavier or lighter, where there is more or less organic matter. A task map translates that into work: for every spot it states how much should be spread, sprayed or worked. The machine reads that task map and adjusts its output while driving.
What does the weed detection algorithm do?
In the Robotics lab a student is building an algorithm that detects weeds in tulip fields. On screen it draws an outline around what it takes to be a weed, with a number for the probability, and the closer that number is to 1 the more certain it is. A grower can see how many weeds there are and where they sit. Later the camera can decide by itself to spray a little more in one place and a little less in another.
Where can I watch the full film?
These questions and answers are a short summary. Watch the full film "Digital Farming NHN, from soil maps to algorithms" with all insights, examples and background at https://www.bc1.eu/digital-farming-data-processing-for-precision-farming/
Tags:algorithmsfarming algorithmssoil mapsagricultural data processingdata processingDigitalFarmingDigitalFarmingNHNsustainabilitysustainable agricultureInholland University of Applied Sciencesinnovationagricultureagricultural innovationreducing fertiliserfewer crop protection products

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