FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Quick answers to our most common queries – from EM mapping to software compatibility.

Where do VRT Solutions Operate?

Based in Esperance, Western Australia. VRT Solutions covers all areas of the Wheatbelt.

Unit 2, 113B Dempster Street, Esperance WA 6450

VRT Solutions has worked hard to keep the costs of investing in this technology low on a per-hectare basis. Generally, adoption of this technology can potentially pay back in savings and higher efficiency of inputs within one to two years, with everything after that becoming a reward for adoption.
Dual EM surveys are undertaken by VRT Solutions to measure soil electrical conductivity allowing soil variability to be mapped. The EM probe consists of horizontal and vertical electromagnetic fields that collect data simultaneously.
Changes in EM readings across a typical paddock can be indicative of changes in salinity, clay percentage, and presence of moisture and metal or several of these factors at once! In Western Australia, gamma radiometrics is a necessary sensor which provides a complimentary dataset which is collected simultaneously. We use both sensors together due to the high prevalence of low EM soils in WA.

Costs of yield data, remote sensing and elevation data processing can be less than a dollar per hectare, depending on area. This data can assist in strategic farm planning, farm performance, evaluation of current on-farm practices, and improvement of struggling areas on the farm.
Normalised differential vegetation index (NDVI) is calculated by using a formula, looking at the reflectance of visible red light and near infrared light on green areas. Chorophyll in plant leaves has high absorbance of visible light, while leaf cells reflect near infrared light. If there is variability in the health of the crop, assessing the NDVI across a farm or paddock (of the same species and variety) can lead to better use of top up nitrogen applications, especially in a VR situation.

The method of soil sampling is crucial for obtaining representative and actionable data. Targeted sampling, for instance, focuses on specific areas or zones within a field identified as unique or problematic. This approach provides detailed insights into localized issues, allowing for precise interventions.
EM and gamma data, through interpolated maps, offer the kind of predictive modelled coverage that would be far too expensive to conduct with soil sampling. Other methods and theories are available by other service providers, but we adopt a highly critical approach to our own methods, always striving to improve on an already efficient system.
Time and efficiency loss can be a major downside if the analysis is not properly conducted. If the data is misinterpreted, there could be a poor zoning map applied for a soil ameliorant product for example, that may not be required, or may be too much, leading to nutritional problems, poor ROI per hectare and wasted time and energy through logistics. Balance is required with variable rate prescriptions, it needs a reasonable approach while being mindful of the pitfalls, therefore experience is really highly sought after.