The necessity for precision nutrient management has arisen from a decline in agricultural commodity prices, the advent of new technology, and demographic changes resulting in increased urbanization. Community perceptions and attitudes to agriculture, food quality and the environment are often negative: thus management of essential and beneficial nutrients as well as agriculturally undesirable ions is progressing at a more rapid pace than would be dictated by economic and technological factors alone. Some of the main agronomic reasons for developing precision nutrient management are: the potential for ground water pollution particularly nitrate; heavy metal pollution; salinity including rising water tables; nutrient run‐off into streams and rivers from cropping, pastoral, intensive livestock and horticultural enterprises; suitable crop, pasture or other ground cover to minimize soil erosion; and the introduction of new cultivars of plants.