Optimisation of model-based fertiliser formulation for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Agriculture management for better decision making is important due to increased needs for agricultural products and increased pressure on land, water, and other natural resources. Balanced nutrient requirements are essential for increasing tropical crop yield and reducing the risk on the negative environmental impact. Reduce fertiliser consumption and optimise the fertiliser used subjected to waste of fertiliser into the environment are the best way to achieve sustainable agriculture. The nutrient coverage includes macronutrient such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). In this study, the data and procedures used to set up the model as well as the assumptions made for tropical crops. The main objective of the study is to develop a systematic methodology for fertiliser formulation in fertigation system. The sub-objective of the study is to design fertigation fertiliser formulation by using computer-aided approaches which can minimise the environmental impact by reducing the over-used fertiliser leakage. The methods consist of three steps including data collection, the design of fertiliser formulation and verification of fertiliser formulation. The fertiliser formulation will be formulated by using general optimisation problem as the mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP). The results in Stage 1 is expected to be the design formulation of fertiliser sources which gives the minimum cost that is subjected to the plant requirements and the results will further verify in Stage 2. This model-based formulation is the starter for another tropical crop model.