Introduction: From uniform field management to precision farming
Modern agriculture has migrated towards precision farming (PF), a paradigm that focuses on site-specific management, applying resources only where they are needed. Although tools such as GPS and drones have advanced surface mapping, the biggest information gap has always been the lack of precise knowledge about the subsoil, the layer where the roots and crop life actually develop. Yield depends critically and fundamentally on the physical condition of the soil, and this is where Dynamic Scan technology becomes an agent of change.
The problem of not knowing the condition of the soil: The invisible ‘plough pan’
The biggest obstacle in tillage is correcting subsoil compaction problems, known as ‘plough pans’ or ‘plough soles,’ which form at a constant depth due to repeated use of implements. This compaction has serious consequences for crops:
Root restriction: Roots cannot penetrate the hard layers, limiting their access to water and nutrients in the deeper soil profile.
Poor aeration and drainage: Lack of porosity prevents gas exchange and can lead to waterlogging, suffocating the roots.
Inefficient tillage: Without knowing the exact location of compaction, farmers till the entire field to a fixed depth (e.g. subsoiling to 50 cm), resulting in unnecessary fuel and time expenditure in areas that do not need it.
What is Dynamic Scan? Intelligent sensors in motion
Dynamic Scan is a pioneering technology from JYMPA that is integrated into agricultural machinery to perform continuous, real-time, on-the-move analysis of the physical properties of the soil.
This tool uses advanced sensor systems that continuously collect key data as the machine moves forward:
Penetration Resistance (Compaction) Measurement: Measures the force required to penetrate the soil profile. This generates a detailed map of vertical resistance, accurately identifying the depth, thickness and hardness of compacted layers.
Apparent Electrical Conductivity (AEC) Mapping: Electrical conductivity is a crucial indicator that is highly correlated with soil texture (percentage of clay and sand), salt content and moisture. By mapping AEC, Dynamic Scan allows variations in field texture to be inferred.
The information collected is processed immediately to generate georeferenced maps that diagnose the soil and allow for simultaneous corrective action.
Benefits of using it in the field: From information to immediate action.
The real value of Dynamic Scan lies in its ability to go directly from diagnosis to prescription and execution, which translates into:
Tillage Optimisation (VRT): Dynamic Scan enables Variable Rate Tillage (VRT). Instead of subsoiling the entire field at a constant depth, the system identifies that only a percentage of the field is compacted at a specific depth. The machine will only work at maximum depth in that percentage, and will lift the implement in the rest, saving energy.
Fuel Savings and Wear Reduction: By avoiding unnecessary or excessively deep tillage, the tractor’s forward resistance is significantly reduced. This can result in considerable fuel savings and less mechanical fatigue on the implements.
Improved Soil Structure: By focusing decompaction only where it is necessary, soil disturbance in healthy areas is minimised, preserving the structure and biota.
Water and Nutritional Optimisation: Correcting compaction facilitates rainwater infiltration, reducing runoff, and allows roots to access deeper water and nutrient reserves, improving input efficiency.
Increased Yield: An unobstructed soil profile allows for optimal root development, which directly translates into more robust plants and, consequently, a tangible increase in yield.
Practical applications with JYMPA machinery: Intelligent automation
Dynamic Scan technology communicates directly with JYMPA tillage equipment for automatic and precise corrective action:
Integration with VRT Subsoilers: JYMPA subsoilers are equipped with continuously adjustable hydraulic depth control systems. When Dynamic Scan detects a ‘plough pan’, it sends a georeferenced signal and the hydraulic system automatically adjusts the depth of the coulters instantly to penetrate only the hard layer, without manual intervention by the operator.
Cultivator Optimisation: The system can even influence the aggressiveness or working angle of other implements, such as cultivators, to adapt the mixing and breaking of clods to the detected soil texture (e.g. softening the action on light soils).
Mapping for Planting and Fertilisation: The compaction and texture maps generated are invaluable data for other VRT systems (seeders and fertiliser spreaders), which can use this information to adjust planting densities and fertiliser doses with unprecedented agronomic precision.
Conclusion: The Future of Smart Tillage
JYMPA’s Dynamic Scan is the link that connects soil diagnostics with immediate machine action. By providing instant, automated subsoil analysis, it gives the tillage implement unique intelligence. This technology not only takes precision farming to the highest level, but also optimises soil health and dramatically reduces operating costs. It is an investment in efficiency and sustainability.
Are you ready to stop ploughing blindly and start working with pinpoint accuracy? Contact JYMPA. Our team will provide you with a detailed demonstration of how the Dynamic Scan system can transform your subsoiling and boost your crop yield. Request your savings potential study today!