Satellite Insights × Field Wisdom: How INO Agronomists Use eFarming to Bring Living Soil Management to Life

khaiel.my
Nov 21
3 min read

In our recent field analysis reports, the INO agronomy team officially integrated the eFarming remote-sensing platform into our crop monitoring workflow. Using Sentinel-2 satellite data, the system generates vegetation indices such as NDVI and NDRE, allowing our agronomists to identify variations across fields, spot potential stress zones, and track growth trends even before stepping into the field.

However, the true value of these technological tools is not meant to replace people. On the contrary, they enhance on-site observation, enabling our agronomists to apply over 20 years of accumulated expertise in crop nutrition and fertilizer management with even greater precision. This leads to recommendations that are more effective — and more aligned with principles of long-term soil sustainability.

1. Remote-Sensing Imagery as an Early-Stage Diagnostic Tool

Across multiple sets of field image, our agronomists can be seen cross-checking satellite imagery with on-site terrain conditions, focusing especially on areas with noticeable color differences. Their typical workflow looks like this:

• NDVI color distribution:

Green zones indicate high chlorophyll levels, while yellow to red zones point to relatively weaker vegetation.

• Timeline comparison:

By reviewing consecutive satellite images, the team can determine whether a weak patch is a long-term issue or just a temporary fluctuation.

• Cross-verification with ground data:

Areas flagged as weak in the imagery may be affected by waterlogging, uneven nutrient distribution, pest or disease pressure, or differences in field management.

These images do not reveal the exact cause in their own — but they do help agronomists narrow down the possibilities, dramatically improving the efficiency and accuracy of on-site diagnosis.

Field Experience Determines How the Imagery Is Interpreted

The INO team has spent years working across durian orchards, rice fields, vegetable farms, and mixed-cropping systems, building a large archive of soil data and crop-response observations. This experience becomes crucial when interpreting satellite imagery. Agronomists form hypotheses based on crop type and past field patterns:

In durian orchards: red zones often signal root-system constraints or drainage issues.
In rice fields: high NDVI values usually reflect good water depth and sufficient nitrogen; unusually low values call for checks on water levels or disease.
For perennial fruit trees: excessive fluctuations in imagery may indicate inconsistent field management or accumulating soil stress.

In other words, the same NDVI layer can easily be misinterpreted without on-the-ground context. But with seasoned field experience, agronomists can read the imagery through the lens of physiology and practical management — and pinpoint what’s really happening beneath the canopy.

3. Integrating Earth Foods’ Fertilization Strategy with Remote-Sensing Insights

KhaiEL’s Earth Foods division and the INO team jointly promote the Fair Trade for Living Soil initiative — a movement built on two core principles:

Fertilizers should not be used “in larger amounts,” but with greater precision.
Field management must adopt a long-term, soil-health perspective.

With satellite imagery, agronomists can:

Verify whether crop responses after fertilization are uniform.
Identify zones where soil limitations prevent effective nutrient uptake.
Avoid unnecessary or excessive top-up applications.
Recommend zone-specific management when needed — a Variable Rate Thinking approach.

Backed by INO’s extensive history of fertilizer application records, agronomists can quickly determine whether a “persistently weak zone” shown on satellite maps is related to soil structure, biological activity, pH, historical practices, or drainage issues.

4. Scientific Tools × Local Knowledge: Not a Replacement, but a Complement

Many misconceptions in agricultural technology stem from the question: “Can technology replace agricultural expertise?”

In this collaboration, we have seen the exact opposite.

Technology improves the accuracy of agronomists —but agronomists give technology its meaning.

Repetitive field interpretations show that:

Satellite imagery can reveal where something is abnormal.
But it takes field experts to understand why it’s happening and how it should be corrected.

In this sense, eFarming is not the star of the story —it is an extension of field knowledge, enhancing the work that agronomists already do best.

5. The Next Step of Fair Trade for Living Soil

Through this human-plus-technology approach, the INO agronomy team is able to:

Build more precise baseline profiles for each field.
Provide data-driven recommendations for sustainable management.
More effectively demonstrate how to reduce fertilizer waste and lower environmental pressure.
Strengthen farmers’ understanding of soil health.

Together, these efforts form the practical foundation of the Fair Trade for Living Soil movement —a model where farmers, soil, and crops all benefit from more transparent and responsible management.