Nutrient management of paddy rice fields in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo – Using UAV-imaging for a precision agricultural approach

Rice production in the South-Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo does not meet local demand despite its enormous production potential and need to be increased to cover the deficit. Sustainable increase in rice production requires efficient and environmentally-sound management practices. The main objective of this project is to assess the effect of nutrient management on paddy rice yield and soil properties, and the potential of UAV technology in precision agriculture under different cropping systems in South Kivu. A three-way factor split-plot experiment (4-times replicated) will be installed in two growing areas—covering high- and lowland areas of South-Kivu—by applying thee levels of biochar (0, 1 or 2 t ha-1) to experimental plots under two water management regimes and considering the three most commonly cultivated rice varieties (of each growing area). The rice crop and soil responses to different management practises will be established through imaging using both UAV photogrammetry and spectroscopy approaches with RGB and multispectral cameras, respectively. Image-based analyses will be verified by ‘ground truth’ measurements on soils (carbon and nitrogen) and crops (nutrient status, phenology, and yield). Projected yield estimates under optimized management regimes will be scaled for each growing area by modelling. This study is of great importance in the South-Kivu province where the demand for rice keeps increasing but where limited studies have been conducted to improve sustainable paddy rice production. The applied study will therefore contribute to hunger and poverty reduction in the region and facilitate cross-border collaboration and capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa—using a timely, digital approach to facilitate advanced agronomic techniques.