Robots Add Year-Round Nitrogen Efficiency To Corn

2025 - Volume #49, Issue #2, Page #23

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Many companies are transitioning to more sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, but fertilizers and their use have been a lingering stumbling block. Much of what’s applied isn’t being used by the targeted crops; rather, it’s being washed away or vaporized.
“Fertilizers aren’t bad; they’re actually amazing,” says Jana Tian, CEO and co-founder of Upside Robotics. “They help with growing food more efficiently, but the issue is they’re getting applied inefficiently, even in split applications, because the way the crop needs fertilizer is almost the opposite of how it’s usually applied.”
Most fertilizer is incorporated before or during seeding, but the plant’s needs are greatest during later stages when the uptake is highest.
“Robots are the missing piece in this dilemma,” Tian says. “With robotics, we don’t need all the labor and power requirements, plus we can align with plant growth and conditions far better by making as many split applications as we want with no additional costs.”
Upside Robotics developed the Maize Runner, the first live-in-field robot. The 24-in. wide electrically-driven miniature robots are sized to fit between 30-in. corn rows, spraying liquid fertilizer directly onto the plants right in season. The Maize Runners come with multiple sensors for crop monitoring, a 10-gal. tank and solar-powered rechargeable batteries that deliver about six hours of running time before a 40-min. recharge is required. Controls are guided by RTK GPS, which sends the robots to and from the field for spraying, recharging and refilling.
Each unit sprays about 20 acres daily, running 45 to 150 min. between liquid tank refills. A group of miniature robots working together in swarms can cover many acres.
Before weekly spraying events, preprogrammed algorithms analyze and monitor weather patterns. The intention is to send robots into the field before rain to ensure the sprayed nitrogen is washed down properly into the roots. During the following week’s spray trip, the algorithm differentiates the crop growth in different field sectors to measure its response.
Upside Robotics completed seven Ontario-based commercial trials during the 2024 growing season.
“Our research and trials demonstrated we saved our customers about 50 percent of total nitrogen with no impact on yield,” Tian says. “We believe in the right conditions, we could reduce nitrogen by as much as 70 percent while still maintaining yields. This confirmation provides much more confidence with split applications as we can change strategy. We don’t need to make upfront decisions about how much nitrogen we’re putting down. Climate conditions and microorganisms will change. We need to constantly measure how responsive the crops are.”
Tian explains their technology also improves soil health as the less nitrogen applied, the better it is for the microorganisms.
Upside Robotics will begin its first U.S.-based trial in Florida in January 2025. The company’s goal for the year is to incorporate phosphorus, potassium and sulfur into the system to save nutrients and build yields. They intend to utilize a total of 30 Maize Runners. “We’d like to realize 35-bushel increases by detecting nutrient deficiencies before they happen and ensuring the corn gets exactly what it needs at the right time,” Tian says.
Longer-term goals include combining pest management controls and fungicides in 2026 and detecting and spraying weeds in-row while continuing to add fertilizer variations.
“We’re beginning as the ultimate corn robot, but eventually, we’ll expand into other crops as well,” Tian says. “In a sense, we’re already commercially available as we continue our trials and prove our added value. Next year, about 15 units will be sold to farmers as a service, and around 50 the following year. We’re working to prove they’re 100 percent viable on a per acre basis.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Upside Robotics (ph Canada: 437-425-0979 or U.S.: 415-718-8670; jana@upsiderobotics.com; www.upsiderobotics.com).

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Robots Add Year-Round Nitrogen Efficiency To Corn Many companies are transitioning to more sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices but fertilizers and their use have been a lingering stumbling block Much of what’s applied isn’t being used by the targeted crops; rather it’s being washed away or vaporized “Fertilizers aren’t bad; they’re actually amazing ” says Jana Tian CEO and co-founder of Upside Robotics “They help with growing food more efficiently but the issue is they’re getting applied inefficiently even in split applications because the way the crop needs fertilizer is almost the opposite of how it’s usually applied ” Most fertilizer is incorporated before or during seeding but the plant’s needs are greatest during later stages when the uptake is highest “Robots are the missing piece in this dilemma ” Tian says “With robotics we don’t need all the labor and power requirements plus we can align with plant growth and conditions far better by making as many split applications as we want with no additional costs ” Upside Robotics developed the Maize Runner the first live-in-field robot The 24-in wide electrically-driven miniature robots are sized to fit between 30-in corn rows spraying liquid fertilizer directly onto the plants right in season The Maize Runners come with multiple sensors for crop monitoring a 10-gal tank and solar-powered rechargeable batteries that deliver about six hours of running time before a 40-min recharge is required Controls are guided by RTK GPS which sends the robots to and from the field for spraying recharging and refilling Each unit sprays about 20 acres daily running 45 to 150 min between liquid tank refills A group of miniature robots working together in swarms can cover many acres Before weekly spraying events preprogrammed algorithms analyze and monitor weather patterns The intention is to send robots into the field before rain to ensure the sprayed nitrogen is washed down properly into the roots During the following week’s spray trip the algorithm differentiates the crop growth in different field sectors to measure its response Upside Robotics completed seven Ontario-based commercial trials during the 2024 growing season “Our research and trials demonstrated we saved our customers about 50 percent of total nitrogen with no impact on yield ” Tian says “We believe in the right conditions we could reduce nitrogen by as much as 70 percent while still maintaining yields This confirmation provides much more confidence with split applications as we can change strategy We don’t need to make upfront decisions about how much nitrogen we’re putting down Climate conditions and microorganisms will change We need to constantly measure how responsive the crops are ” Tian explains their technology also improves soil health as the less nitrogen applied the better it is for the microorganisms Upside Robotics will begin its first U S -based trial in Florida in January 2025 The company’s goal for the year is to incorporate phosphorus potassium and sulfur into the system to save nutrients and build yields They intend to utilize a total of 30 Maize Runners “We’d like to realize 35-bushel increases by detecting nutrient deficiencies before they happen and ensuring the corn gets exactly what it needs at the right time ” Tian says Longer-term goals include combining pest management controls and fungicides in 2026 and detecting and spraying weeds in-row while continuing to add fertilizer variations “We’re beginning as the ultimate corn robot but eventually we’ll expand into other crops as well ” Tian says “In a sense we’re already commercially available as we continue our trials and prove our added value Next year about 15 units will be sold to farmers as a service and around 50 the following year We’re working to prove they’re 100 percent viable on a per acre basis ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Upside Robotics ph Canada: 437-425-0979 or U S : 415-718-8670; jana@upsiderobotics com; www upsiderobotics com

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