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Saturday, 8 August 2026 in
BC1 Business Channel One
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Digital Farming NHN, data and precision agriculture

🎬 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.

What 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

The 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

This 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 flower bulb cultivation, 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.
What kind of sensor is used for soil measurements?
Soil measurements use, among others, a passive gamma sensor that measures the natural radioactivity emitted by the soil itself. This sensor can be mounted on smaller vehicles such as a quad and measures between 6 and 10 hectares per hour in practice, depending on driving speed. This quickly reveals whether the soil is sandy or clay and how the proportions within the soil are distributed.
How do you measure soil using radioactivity?
With a passive gamma sensor, mounted on the front of a sprayer or even a quad bike. Soil is slightly radioactive by nature, and that is natural radiation we live in every day. The sensor measures it and covers 6 to 10 hectares an hour. Passes are 10 to 12 metres wide; driving narrower passes adds little.
Which data comes together to steer the sprayer?
Four sources: 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.
Where can I watch the full film?
These questions and answers are a short summary. Watch the full film "Digital Farming – Data Processing for Precision Farming" with all insights, examples and background at https://www.bc1.eu/digital-farming-data-processing-for-precision-farming/