A. Pilot SITES
Five pilot sites serve as field-scale testbeds where NitroScope actively evaluates improved nitrogen management and conservation strategies under real agronomic conditions.
Implemented across different pedo-climatic zones and monitored over two growing seasons, pilot sites link management practices to measured impacts on NUE, crop performance and nitrogen losses, supporting the development of practical, scalable mitigation solutions.
01. Belgium Pilot
Location: Atlantic Central pedo-climatic region (Belgium)
Lead: UGent
This pilot takes place on a large 600+ ha commercial arable farm with loam, sandy loam, clay loam, and peat soils—representative of Europe’s most intensive agricultural regions (Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France). The farm grows potato, wheat, maize, sugar beet, barley, and flax under conventional practices, facing high nitrate leaching and strong regulatory pressure to reduce nutrient losses.
The pilot tests variable rate (VR) application of synthetic fertilisers, manure, and bio-based fertilisers (including ammonium sulphate from air-scrubbing). Using high-resolution soil sensing, multi-sensor data fusion, and field-level mapping, the site compares VR against uniform-rate (UR) fertilisation. Past UGent trials show +10.4% yield increases and –19.4% N fertiliser use under VR fertilisation, alongside significant economic benefits—up to €20 million saved per million tons of avoided manure processing.
02. Switzerland Pilot
Location: Alpine South pedo-climatic region (Tänikon Research Farm, Switzerland)
Lead: Agroscope (AGS)
Located in a region where 50% of groundwater samples exceed the 25 mg/L nitrate limit, this pilot focuses on reducing nitrate leaching and N₂O emissions while maintaining high wheat productivity. The research farm is known for intensive data collection and advanced technology deployment.
The pilot uses:
- high-frequency multispectral drone imagery
- mineral N analyses and soil spectroscopy
- dynamic N-mineralization modelling
- gas flux chambers and suction cups
- a multisensor platform integrated with remote sensing
The goal is to optimise fertilisation timing, placement, and rate in line with the 4R principles (Right rate, time, source, place). Previous work at this site showed +10% NUE without yield loss; NitroScope aims to push this further and contribute to Switzerland’s national goal of reducing agricultural N losses by 15% by 2030.
03. Italy Pilot
Location: Mediterranean North pedo-climatic region (Commercial farm, Italy)
Lead: CC (Ca’ Colonna)
This pilot takes place on a 40+ ha commercial vegetable farm cultivating zucchini, fennel, cabbage, beans, lettuce, and garden cress under fully organic practices. The site is a representative system for high-value horticulture in the Mediterranean.
The innovation focus is the precision application of organic compost derived from poultry manure, comparing VR and UR techniques. UGent’s vis-NIRS technology will be used to map soil fertility at very high resolution (500+ sensor readings/ha) to guide VR applications. The expected benefits include reduced nutrient losses, improved fertiliser efficiency, and higher market value under organic certification.
04. Norway Pilot
Location: Hemiboreal pedo-climatic zone (South East Norway, NMBU research farm)
Lead: NMBU
Situated on a 10–15 ha research farm with cereals and leys, this pilot targets one of Europe’s most pressing N-flux challenges: off-season N₂O spikes caused by freeze–thaw cycles. With increasingly unstable winters, these emissions are expected to rise.
The pilot uses cutting-edge monitoring:
- autonomous GPS-guided field flux robot with fastbox technique
- high-frequency N₂O measurements
- cover crop trials and crop residue management
- treated animal slurry and digestate application
- carbon farming system evaluation
Its core aim is to quantify the “N cost of carbon farming” and identify strategies that reduce winter N losses while maintaining soil carbon and crop productivity.
05. Greece Pilot
Location: Mediterranean South pedo-climatic region (Aliartos, Agricultural University of Athens experimental farm)
Lead: AUA
On a 100 ha farm producing arable crops (especially winter wheat), this pilot tests VR fertilisation in a rainfed system highly vulnerable to precipitation-driven N-leaching. Central Greece accounts for 10% of the country’s wheat production, yet conventional uniform pre-sowing fertilisation results in very low NUE (17–37%) and losses reaching 70–94% of applied N.
NitroScope will apply VR techniques—validated in previous Greek studies that achieved 25–38% reductions in applied N and substantial mitigation of leaching—to determine how spatiotemporal variability in the field can be used to minimise N losses in dryland systems. The trials include monitoring of nitrate, soil moisture, drone-based crop assessments, and multiple fertiliser timing strategies.
See also...
Α. Pilot sites
Five pilot sites test improved nitrogen management and conservation strategies under real field conditions. Monitored over two growing seasons across different pedo-climatic zones, they link practices to impacts on NUE, crop performance and nitrogen losses.
B. Intensive monitoring sites
Nine intensive monitoring sites provide continuous 24/7 measurements over about 24 months, starting in February 2027, capturing short-term variability in nitrogen fluxes. They monitor soil nitrogen, gaseous emissions, soil conditions and crop dynamics to generate reference datasets and reduce modelling uncertainty.
C. Regional data collection sites
Around 100 regional data collection sites ensure broad coverage of Europe’s soils, climates and cropping systems. Their harmonised, multi-season datasets support model calibration, regional comparison and upscaling to national and EU levels.