{"id":27548,"date":"2026-11-12T14:17:45","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T19:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.logiag.com\/?p=27548"},"modified":"2026-11-12T14:26:03","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T19:26:03","slug":"understanding-low-yields-through-geomatics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.logiag.com\/en\/announcement\/understanding-low-yields-through-geomatics\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Low Yields Through Geomatics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Making improvements to a field to boost its yield can be complicated and cost a fortune. Our digital soil-water prediagnosis<\/a> highlights issues that are often difficult to spot with the naked eye, ensuring you invest in the right areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just about every farm has one: a plot where yields fall short, no matter what measures are taken. Yet, one this is observed, it\u2019s often difficult to determine with the naked eye what\u2019s causing this lack of vigor: poor drainage, lower soil fertility, or a problematic soil structure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our new soil drainage pre-diagnostic service addresses this very issue. Drawing on our expertise in geomatics and agronomy, it reveals the likely links between water behavior on your fields and the vigor of your crops. In short, it provides you with insights to help you decide which investment in your land will be the most profitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a time when input costs are rising, this could make a significant difference to your bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, \u201cwhen nutrients are adequate for the crop, water management becomes the primary constraint on yield stability,\u201d concludes a recent study reported in Le Bulletin des agriculteurs<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cross-Referencing Various Data Sets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By using geographic information systems (GIS) to cross-reference data, our preliminary assessment goes beyond traditional soil drainage analyses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe prediagnosis first evaluates crop vigor using the NDVI,\u201d explains agrologist Jean-Christophe H\u00e9bert, head of our agricultural engineering team\u2019s grading services. Using images from the Sentinel-2 satellite, the NDVI indicates a field\u2019s level of vigor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile it\u2019s not a traditional yield map, it provides us with valuable insights we can work with,\u201d says Jean-Christophe H\u00e9bert. \u201cIf a farmer tells us that crops aren\u2019t growing well in a certain area, we can see it for ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When available, the team also analyzes yield maps and spring aerial images. \u201cIdeally, we analyze aerial images from different years to avoid misinterpretations based on a single, particularly dry year, for example,\u201d explains the agrologist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevation, Slope, and Depression Maps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The team then combines the NDVI with lidar data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests<\/a>. This data comes from an airplane that fires a laser beam toward the ground. The beam bounces back, and the time it takes to return to the airplane reveals the terrain\u2019s elevations. \u201cWith the lidar data, we can calculate contour lines and slopes and see where water might accumulate,\u201d explains the grading specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This data is also used to calculate the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). This index combines terrain topography and surface water. \u201cAll in all, it\u2019s a runoff map,\u201d explains Jean-Christophe H\u00e9bert. \u201cThe TWI shows where water flows, where it concentrates, and where it accumulates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, our agricultural engineering team adds one last layer of data: IRDA\u2019s soil maps. This allows the team to determine whether soil series are causing the differences in crop vigor observed in the NDVI or the spring aerial images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, this dataset does not provide ready-made answers. \u201cRather, it allows us to formulate hypotheses, suggest additional tests, and validate with greater confidence which corrective measures would be most appropriate,\u201d says Mr. H\u00e9bert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Concrete Example: A Round-Plow Layout<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take the example of a dairy farm that opted for a round-plow layout and drained its fields more than 30 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NDVI shows some variability in crop vigor, particularly lower yields between the round plow furrows, in the drainage ditches. Topographic maps and the TWI confirm this observation: the drainage ditches do accumulate water, especially where there are minor slope irregularities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before suggesting that farmers should level their fields, however, the agrologist recommends conducting a few simple checks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n