BSSi Seed Sensing Technology (SST) offers significant environmental advantages over conventional planting technology.

On a 1,000 acre potato farm, SST can reduce CO₂ equivalent emissions by 9 tonnes compared to conventional planting technology!*

*Assuming 153 lbs. applied N per acre and plant uptake of 50%

Fewer Planting Gaps = Less Environmental Loss = Greater Environmental Sustainability

By preventing gaps in fields, SST allows farmers to have greater canopy coverage and, therefore, greater utilization of inputs (such as nitrogen) and far less environmental loss (leaching, run-off, green house gases).

Previous studies have shown SST reduces gaps by 2.9% per acre, or approximately 422 fewer gaps per acre, compared to conventional planters. With SST, a 1,000 acre potato farm can avoid having 47.5 acres of bare ground.

Research shows SST decreases greenhouse gas emissions by reducing environmental losses caused by gaps in planting.

Findings support that SST is better for the environment than conventional planting technology taking into account:

• Independent field studies
• Scientific literature review
• Industry norms

These finding have been reached in collaboration with two of Canada’s top academic researchers in the sustainable agriculture, climate change, and adaptation:

Aitazaz Farooque, PhD, P.Eng, P.Ag (UPEI)

David Burton, PhD, FCSSS (Dalhousie AC)

Read their research on our Case Studies page here. 

Theoretical Example Scenario:

A 1,000 acre farm has an estimated 47.5 acres of gaps when using conventional planting technology.

Nitrogen application rates vary but are required for optimal plant growth.

Different varieties require different application rates. Rates typical for potato varieties grown in Eastern Canada range from 120lbs to 186lbs/acre.

Using the median rate of 153 lbs/acre of Nitrogen, 7,268 lbs of N would be applied to the 47.5 acres of gaps.

Plant uptake values also vary, but if the ground is bare the Nitrogen uptake will be 0%.

Nitrogen applied to bare ground – because of gaps left by conventional planting technology – will be lost as nitrate (NO₃) leachate, runoff, or nitrous oxide (N₂O) greenhouse gas emissions.

In this scenario, the 47.5 acres of gaps left by conventional planting technology will lead to all of 7,268 lbs of nitrogen (0% plant uptake) to be lost to the environment as N₂O emissions, nitrate NO₃^– leachate, or runoff.

1% or 73lbs, will be lost to the atmosphere as N₂O which is 273 times more potent than CO₂ in terms of global warming potential.

N₂O is 273 times more potent than CO₂. SST helps reduce N₂O emissions in potato farming.

Without SST, the bare ground of the gaps will result in 73 lb N₂O to the atmosphere, equivalent to 3,452lbs, or 9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

*Please note: Environmental loss may occur even in fields fully planted due to plant uptake factors including soil type, moisture content, weather, fertilization timing, and potato variety. Considering a conservative plant uptake figure of 50%, using SST to prevent the 47.5 acres of gaps on a 1,000 acre farm would reduce the environmental loss by 50%, recovering 3,634 lbs N that would otherwise be lost with conventional planting equipment.

Benefits to a Farm