A team of researchers at Jagannath University (JnU) has developed a smart technology that could help farmers reduce nitrogen fertiliser use on agricultural land by 22 to 23 per cent.
The system, named “N-FertiSmart,” scans farmland to measure existing nitrogen levels and calculate exact crop requirements across different sections of a plot.
This allows farmers to apply fertiliser precisely where needed, rather than spreading equal amounts across an entire field. A prototype of the project is currently on display at the Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026.
According to the research team, data for every 100 square metres of land is gathered using the European Union’s Sentinel satellite. Researchers then collect field-level data using various sensors and cross-match it with the satellite information for accuracy.
This combined process helps determine existing soil nitrogen and track changes after heavy rainfall or flooding.
Explaining how the system works, Professor Mohammad Nasir Uddin of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) noted that when excess fertiliser is applied, crops only absorb what they need, leaving the rest wasted in the soil.
He explained that field sensor data is being validated against satellite data to ensure consistency.
“This has shown that we can reduce fertiliser use by 22 per cent under any circumstances,” Professor Nasir Uddin said, adding that the technology can also calculate how much fertiliser usage has dropped compared to the previous year.
Under the “Fertilizer Recommendation Guide 2024,” standard guidelines advise applying about 174kg of nitrogen fertiliser per hectare.
Using “N-FertiSmart” model calculations based on specific land needs, this amount can be reduced to 135.90kg per hectare.
Researchers noted that this calculation demonstrates the practical possibility of using nearly 22 per cent less fertiliser than traditional guidelines suggest.
AMM Golam Adam of the Department of Botany highlighted that a large portion of applied urea fertiliser goes to waste.
He said that determining area-based fertiliser demand through remote sensing offers a major opportunity to prevent this loss, with initial tests showing at least a 22 per cent reduction compared to existing recommendations.
The project is a joint initiative between JnU’s Department of Botany and Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). The research team includes Md Ataul Ghani, AMM Golam Adam, and Mohammad Nasir Uddin, alongside young researchers Biplob Biswas and Md Najim Sharif.
Professor Nasir Uddin shared that the study began about a year ago with funding from the ICT Ministry.
Researchers emphasised that if further field testing confirms the technology’s effectiveness, farmers will be able to apply fertiliser strictly according to soil requirements.
This approach will help eliminate fertiliser waste, cut farming expenses, and reduce the environmental impact caused by excessive nitrogen use.
