The study aimed to develop a methodology for determining zones of intra-field heterogeneity for precision farming. In this study, we took into account the Belarussian national land use system which provides for the absence of private ownership of agricultural land. The spatial distribution of intra-field heterogeneity zones within the land use area of 7549.49 thousand hectares was identified using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The algorithm for determining zones of spatial heterogeneity provides for: (1) the selection of indicators and their ranking; (2) developing a pairwise comparison matrix, (3) estimating relative weights and (4) assessing matrix consistency. It is recommended to use data from agrochemical soil studies which are conducted centrally every 4 years for each agricultural enterprise as input parameters. These data include the humus content in the soil, the content of available phosphorus and potassium, soil pH, and the content of B, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg. The data should be carefully examined using spatial statistics tools to provide a more accurate delineation of the management-zones boundaries. The developed technique makes it possible to determine fertile and marginal areas within each field and differentiate the use of fertilizers, taking into account the presence of intra-field heterogeneity. This will reduce the total cost of purchasing and applying phosphorus fertilizers by 34 $·haE−1 and potash fertilizers by 9 $·haE−1 due to the redistribution of the fertilizer dose calculated for the planned yield, taking into account the identified site-specific management zones. At the same time, the level of chemical pressure per hectare of arable land will decrease by 6.7% without loss of crops productivity.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services in Latvia nowadays provide not only for a variety of navigation and surveying needs, but also they are used in agricultural production. The time period when satellite navigation systems equipment and services in agricultural businesses appeared in Latvia and were treated as objects of interest and research has passed. GNSS equipment and enabling modules are purchased, installed and used in agricultural equipment extending their capabilities. A growing number of entrepreneurs provide for this service segment. In the publication of 2014, the authors pointed out that a preparatory and investigation phase in using precision farming systems (including GNSS technology related to them) in Latvia has come to an end transforming into massive practical implementation in the process of agricultural business. The analysis of the obtained information confirmed that during the last year further satellite navigation technology usage in agricultural machinery has grown from simple and approximate level usage to high accuracy and stability navigation services. Growth dynamics and its further development forecasted earlier by the authors coincided with the last year’s actual development indicators of a stable and growing demand for global navigation system services for farming machinery and technical solutions for their user segment. The aim of the article is to justify the forecast expressed in the last year’s publication regarding the increase of the use of precision farming systems thus confirming the fact that their application has moved from a research phase to massive practical implementation and operation in agricultural production.

The aim of the study was to develop a methodology for determining homogeneous territorial zones for precision farming. In this study we took into account the national land use system which provides for the absence of private ownership of agricultural land. The algorithm for determining management-zones provides for: establishing zones of spatial heterogeneity; determining the presence of clusters and emissions; modelling the spatial distribution of soil quality indicators. It is recommended to use data from agrochemical soil studies which are conducted centrally every 4 years for each agricultural enterprise as input parameters. These data include: the humus content in the soil, the content of available phosphorus and potassium and soil pH. The data should be carefully examined using spatial statistics tools to provide a more accurate delineation of the management-zones boundaries. The developed technique makes it possible to determine fertile and marginal areas within each individual field and differentiate the use of fertilizers, taking into account the presence of intra-field heterogeneity. This will save from 2.5 to 21.8 kg P haE−1 and from 0.9 to 26.7 kg K haE−1 due to the redistribution of the fertilizer dose calculated for the planned yield, taking into account the identified site-specific management zones. The differentiated use of mineral fertilizers will increase the profitability of growing winter cereals by 2.2%, sugar beets by 1.3%, rapeseed by 1.1%, and malting barley by 0.8%.