Not every field is worth applying variable rates on. Some fields are fairly uniform, and different seeding or fertiliser rates won't bring much savings or extra yield there.
VRA Potential shows you which fields have strong historical productivity differences and estimates how much you could save or earn by using variable rates instead of a flat rate. Use it to decide which fields to start with before building productivity zones and VRA maps in OneSoil Pro.
To assess a field, OneSoil analyses historical satellite data and splits the field into three simplified zones: high, medium, and low productivity. The bigger the difference between these zones, the higher the field's VRA potential.
Where to find VRA Potential in the web app
Open the field you want to check.
Go to the 'Status' tab.
Find the VRA Potential status of the field (for example, 'Good VRA Potential') and click it.
The 'Estimate field performance' window will open. On the left, you'll see the field's VRA Potential summary. On the right, there's a calculator for estimating savings or extra profit.
Where to find VRA Potential in the mobile app
In the mobile app, you can check VRA Potential for all your fields at once on the map.
On the map, tap the layers button and select the 'VRA Potential' layer. Your fields will be coloured by their potential, so you can quickly see the best candidates for VRA across the whole farm.
Tap a field to see a short preview: field name, area, VRA potential, and zone difference.
Open the field to see the VRA Potential card, then tap 'Calculate saving' to open the calculator.
The calculator in the mobile app works the same way as in the web app — see the sections below.
How to read the VRA Potential summary
The left side of the window shows why the field got its status.
Indicator | What it means |
VRA Potential status | How suitable the field is for VRA: high, medium, or low potential. If there isn't enough satellite data, you'll see 'Not enough data'. |
VRA Potential, % | A single score to rank your fields from best to worst for VRA. It combines the zone difference and the share of the field that can be treated with variable rates. The score is compared across the fields in your workspace, so the field with the highest potential gets the top value. |
Diverse field area, ha | The area of the high and low productivity zones combined. This is the part of the field where variable rates can bring savings or extra yield. |
Zone difference, % | The difference in productivity between the high and low zones. The bigger it is, the more sense VRA makes. |
Below the indicators, you'll find a short explanation of the result. For example: This field has strong historical productivity differences. Variable-rate fertilisation or seeding may help reduce input waste.
💡 Use the VRA Potential score to prioritise: start with the fields that have the highest score and the largest diverse field area.
How to estimate field performance
On the right side of the window, you can calculate how VRA would perform on this field compared to a flat rate.
Step 1. Select the operation. Choose 'Planting', 'Fertiliser application', or 'Crop protection'.
Step 2. Fill in the parameters. Enter the values you usually use on this field:
Crop — the crop you plan to grow.
Standard rate — the flat rate you'd normally apply across the whole field. Select the unit next to it (for example, seeds/ha or kg/ha).
Seed price (or input price) — how much the input costs at the standard rate.
Yield mass — the expected yield from the field, in tonnes.
Yield revenue — the price you get per tonne of yield.
💡 The more accurate your numbers are, the more realistic the estimate will be. Use your actual rates and prices from the last season.
Step 3. Choose a strategy in 'Zone performance'. Here you'll see the area of each zone and the rate OneSoil suggests for it. There are two strategies:
'Input saving' — the rate is reduced in the low productivity zone, while the medium and high zones keep the standard rate. The idea is to save inputs where they won't pay off, without losing yield.
'Yield optimization' — the rate is reduced in the low productivity zone and increased in the high productivity zone. Input costs may go up or down, but the high zone can bring more yield, so the total profit may be higher.
The rate change for each zone depends on how much its productivity differs from the medium zone. You'll see the difference under the rate. For example, -6,212 seeds/ha in the low zone means the calculator suggests sowing 6,212 seeds/ha less than your standard rate there.
Step 4. Check the result in 'Total estimation'. Switch between 'By Field' and 'By Ha' to see the totals for the whole field or per hectare.
With 'Input saving', you'll see:
Cost with flat rate — what you'd spend applying the standard rate across the whole field.
Cost with VRA — what you'd spend with the suggested zone rates.
Savings — the difference between the two.
With 'Yield optimization', you'll also see the estimated revenue for both scenarios, the potential yield change, and the potential benefit: how much more profit VRA could bring compared to a flat rate after input costs.
Step 5. Recalculate. To change the currency, use the 'Currency' selector at the bottom of the window. After you change any parameter, click 'Recalculate estimates' to update the results.
Good to know
👌 The results are an estimate, not a guaranteed outcome. VRA Potential uses a simplified analysis of historical field variability. Final productivity zones and VRA maps in OneSoil Pro may differ after more detailed processing. Actual results also depend on the crop, weather, input strategy, machinery setup, and your agronomic decisions.
Now you know which of your fields are worth using VRA on. The next step is to build productivity zones and a VRA map for them in OneSoil Pro.
Want to learn more about VRA?
Check how to analyse your field in detail: The field report explained →