Embracing precision agriculture for enhanced profitability

Key takeaways

• Precision agriculture focuses on management, not just technology
• Soil variability significantly impacts orchard performance
• Mapping enables targeted input use and cost savings
• Adjusting inputs like gypsum, sulfur and potassium improves ROI
• Better data leads to more efficient and profitable decisions

Precision agriculture is often framed as a conversation about new technology — drones, sensors, mapping software and automated equipment. But at its core, precision agriculture is not about technology. It is about management.

The principle is simple: identify variability, measure it accurately and manage it intentionally. When those steps are done well, profitability follows.

For decades, many orchards have been managed using soil samples pulled from one or two locations, assuming they represented the entire orchard. In reality, the likelihood that one or two samples accurately capture conditions across a large orchard block is extremely low.

Soils vary dramatically across short distances. Texture changes. Nutrient levels shift. Salinity and sodium problems appear in isolated zones. Yet management decisions are often based on a single point of information. When that happens, inefficiency is almost guaranteed. Some areas receive more inputs than needed, while others remain constrained by deficiencies. Either way, money is being left on the table.

Seeing variability across the orchard

Modern tools are making it easier than ever to understand variability within orchards. High-resolution soil mapping, digital soil core sampling and other sensing technologies allow growers to generate detailed maps of soil chemistry, texture and productivity zones.

Combining these layers creates a digital picture of the orchard, revealing where constraints are limiting productivity. Once variability becomes visible, management decisions become more intentional — and often more profitable.

Correcting sodicity issues with gypsum

One pistachio orchard example illustrates how costly undetected variability can be. Historically, the grower applied gypsum at a standard rate of one ton per acre, costing about $100 per acre. Soil mapping later revealed significant sodium issues in portions of the orchard, with elevated sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) levels that severely restricted water infiltration.

In these areas, soils were nearly impenetrable. Trees struggled to take up water, leaves dropped prematurely and yields declined by roughly 1,000 pounds per acre. Split percentages also fell by about 25% — translating to approximately $622 per acre in lost revenue.

To correct the issue, gypsum rates were adjusted across the orchard according to mapped conditions. Some zones required as much as six tons per acre, others five or three tons, while healthier areas required only half a ton. The resulting field average rose to 2.7 tons per acre, requiring an additional $170 per acre investment compared to the original program.

That added cost was necessary to reclaim the $622 per acre previously lost to sodium-related soil conditions. With proper amendment, these conditions can typically be corrected within one or two seasons.

Reducing unnecessary sulfur application rates

Precision agriculture does not always mean applying more inputs. In many cases, mapping reveals opportunities to reduce spending.

One orchard using Tiger 90 sulfur used for pH management traditionally applied 400 pounds per acre, costing $152 per acre. Once the orchard was mapped, the average requirement across the field dropped to 172 pounds per acre, reducing the cost to $67 per acre. This adjustment saved $85 per acre simply by applying the right rate in the right place.

Optimizing potassium inputs

A similar opportunity appeared when potassium fertility was evaluated. The traditional program applied 300 pounds per acre of sulfate of potash (0-0-50) at roughly $1,000 per ton, equating to $150 per acre. After mapping the orchard, variable-rate recommendations averaged 227 pounds per acre, lowering the cost to $113.75 per acre.

This adjustment saved about $36 per acre in fertilizer cost alone, with additional potential return where previously under-supplied areas receive adequate nutrients.

Precision without specialized equipment

Precision agriculture does not require specialized variable-rate equipment to deliver value. Better information alone improves management decisions.

Spatial data can refine irrigation strategies, guide nitrogen fertility decisions, identify irrigation system problems and reveal patterns indicating distribution or mechanical issues. Correcting these problems can generate significant returns.

Precision as a management mindset

Ultimately, precision agriculture represents a shift in how growers think about managing orchards. The idea that two soil samples taken from opposite corners of a ranch can represent hundreds of acres is unrealistic. Yet that assumption has guided management decisions for decades. Ignoring variability guarantees inputs are not optimized.

Precision agriculture challenges that assumption. By measuring orchards more completely and managing inputs where they matter most, growers can align spending with actual field conditions.

Variability exists in every orchard. The opportunity is to manage it with precision — and capture the profitability that comes with it. 

FAQ

What is precision agriculture?
A management approach that uses data to identify and manage variability within fields.

Does precision agriculture require new equipment?
No, better data alone can improve decision-making without specialized equipment.

How does soil variability affect orchards?
It leads to uneven nutrient availability, water issues and inconsistent yields.

Can precision agriculture reduce costs?
Yes, by applying inputs only where needed, growers can reduce unnecessary spending.

What crops benefit from precision agriculture?
All crops, including orchards like pistachios, almonds and walnuts.

Joe Coelho is the director of sustainability and member outreach for American Pistachio Growers (APG). APG is a nonprofit trade association representing over 830 grower members in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. For a deeper dive into any of the technologies discussed in the above article, you can reach Coelho at jcoelho@americanpistachios.org.