WO2011069563A1 - Procédé et système de surveillance et de commande de distribution d'engrais - Google Patents

Procédé et système de surveillance et de commande de distribution d'engrais Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011069563A1
WO2011069563A1 PCT/EP2009/067105 EP2009067105W WO2011069563A1 WO 2011069563 A1 WO2011069563 A1 WO 2011069563A1 EP 2009067105 W EP2009067105 W EP 2009067105W WO 2011069563 A1 WO2011069563 A1 WO 2011069563A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sensors
soils
sensor
fertilizers
readout
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2009/067105
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Albrecht Otto
Original Assignee
Unity Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unity Ag filed Critical Unity Ag
Publication of WO2011069563A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011069563A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M7/00—Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
    • A01M7/0089—Regulating or controlling systems
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
    • A01C21/00—Methods of fertilising, sowing or planting

Definitions

  • Fertilizers [0001] The present invention is directed at a method and system for monitoring and controlled distribution of fertilizers and/or pesticides in agricultural soils as described in the independent patent claims.
  • fertilizers and pesticides are used for the augmentation of the harvest from agricultural soils.
  • fertilizers and pesticides are used for the augmentation of the harvest from agricultural soils.
  • very often large amounts of (artificial) mineral fertilizers as well as pesticides are distributed onto the agricultural soils.
  • the nutrients contained in the mineral fertilizers are subdivided into macro- and micronutrients.
  • Macronutrients comprise nitrogen, phosphor, calium, and calcium, all of which are applied onto to the soils in rather large amounts on a regular basis.
  • the chemical elements iron and magnesium belong to the group of macronutrients as well, but are usually applied in combination with other mineral fertilizers.
  • micronutrients often described as trace elements in literature, play an important role for feeding the plants. In this category belong chemical elements such as manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, sulphur and boric.
  • Another aspect is that in farming the amounts of fertilizer calculated on the basis of the soil analysis is distributed evenly over the entire area. Different terrain structures such as hills or valleys or deviations in soil quality are not taken into account in this technology.
  • Measurement data based on an analysis of the existing crop can only be used when there is an existing crop. This is not the case during the basic fertilization in spring and autumn. Furthermore, this method is based on the condition of the actual crop. Factors that influence the availability of plant nutrients such as soil reaction and soil humidity are not taken into account either.
  • the dosage of pesticides is based on visual evaluation of the crop only. An analysis of the soil, to identify metabolism products that are created as a result of diseases or weed cover, is not performed at all. [0017] All of the above-mentioned problems of current methods in distribution of mineral fertilizers and pesticides lead to higher costs and to a higher burden for the environment. A targeted concentration of the resources on plants with a higher economical relevance is thus very difficult. [0018] To overcome the above-mentioned problems a method and a system is proposed to make a targeted fertilization and use of pesticide possible with lower costs and a lower burden for the environment.
  • What is proposed is a complete control cycle, comprising methods and systems for obtaining analysis data in the soil, methods and systems for processing the analysis data and methods for using the analysis data for controlling the amount of fertilizer and/or pesticide used on the soil.
  • a method for monitoring and controlled distribution of fertilizers/pesticides in agricultural soils comprising the steps of definition of the area of soils to be monitored, definition of number of sensors needed to monitor the soils, definition of spots in which to place sensors in the soils, definition of depths in which to place the sensors in the soils, placement of sensors at defined spots and depths in the soils, readout of the sensors at defined times, calculation of amounts of fertilizers/pesticides needed, based on the sensor readouts, and distribution of calculated amounts of fertilizers/pesticides on the soils.
  • placing the sensors in the soils may comprise the steps of producing holes in the soils at defined spots and with defined depths and placing the sensors therein.
  • sensor devices such as measurement capsules are distributed evenly over the entire area to be fertilized, in defined distances to each other.
  • the sensor devices it is desired to place the sensor devices in the so called A- horizon of the top soil, i.e. in the middle of the top soil so that during ploughing of the field the alignment of the sensor device remains substantially the same.
  • the measurement capsule or sensor device should be placed at 13cm. Assuming that during ploughing the top soil is turned by 180°, the sensor devices would remain at about the same depth.
  • Placement of the capsules can follow the principles of pneumatic or mechanical single corn seeder, such as those that are used for planting corn or beads.
  • the machines are designed in a way that the sensor devices can be placed with a distance of 10 to 50 meters between them. The aim is to achieve a grid like distribution of sensor devices over the area to be monitored and fertilized. Depending upon the planting corridors, a cover of 10 to 12 sensor devices per ha can be achieved.
  • the method further comprises the step of providing energy to the sensors for readout, either continuously, or discontinuously, wherein energy is provided to the sensors either via cabling or wirelessly. If energy is provided wirelessly, it is even more preferred to provide energy to the sensors via induction, for example following RFID standards.
  • the method further may comprise the step of monitoring the respective location and depth of the sensors in the soils, in order to be able to locate each and every sensor device at any given time.
  • Readout of the sensors is preferably performed wirelessly by means of a transmitter and a receiver, even though readout by wires could be used as well.
  • the sensor data may be digitized and transmitted as a bit stream to the receiver.
  • the method further comprises the step of providing a fertilizer/pesticide distribution device, with means to receive sensor readouts in real time, and interfaces to connect to means to calculate fertilizer/pesticide amounts to be distributed.
  • a sensor device for use in the method as described above, comprising a sensor body, on the outside of which one or more sensors are provided for sensing one or more chemical substances in the agricultural soil, the sensors being electrically connected on the inside of the sensor body, electronic components for energizing the sensors, converters to convert the sensed amount of a given chemical in the soil into an electrical signal, and readout means to transmit data from the sensors.
  • the sensor device body is made from a rot resistant material, such as synthetic polymer or any other plastic, in order to withstand environmental influences for as long as possible.
  • a rot resistant material such as synthetic polymer or any other plastic
  • the Sensor device may be provided with a storage device within the sensor device body, for short term storage of the sensor data before it can be transmitted.
  • the sensor device may be constructed as a passive RFID device.
  • What is proposed furthermore according to the invention is a distribution device for distributing fertilizers/pesticides on agricultural soils for use in a method as described above, with antennas for readout of signals transmitted from sensor devices in the soil, and potentially transmitting energy to the sensor devices, with interfaces to connect with and communicate sensor data to a field bus system of a transport device to which the distribution device is connected, the field bus of the transport device being connected with processor means to calculate fertilizer/pesticide amounts to be distributed based on the sensor data transmitted.
  • the distribution device being provided with mechanical control means to automatically adjust the amount of fertilizers/pesticides to be distributed in response to amounts calculated by the processor.
  • Fig 1 A schematic embodiment of a sensor device
  • Fig. 2 A schematic depiction of the circuitry of the sensor device of Fig. 1.
  • FIG. 3 A schematic depiction of sensor device capsules placed in the soil and readout devices in close proximity thereto.
  • a sensor device in the form of a measurement capsule 2 in a preferred embodiment is formed in a way that the sensors 4, 6, such as ion selective sensor membranes, ion sensitive semiconductors or ion selective electrodes, are placed on the surface of the cover of the capsule 2 in a suitable way, for example in stripes.
  • the sensors 4, 6, such as ion selective sensor membranes, ion sensitive semiconductors or ion selective electrodes, are placed on the surface of the cover of the capsule 2 in a suitable way, for example in stripes.
  • Each sensor 4, 6 is circuit switched 8 within the sensor device capsule 2, and a physical signal conversion is performed, so that exact information regarding the concentration of the relevant chemical substances can be obtained.
  • the conversion into an electrical signal is performed selectively and in real time during an activation phase of the sensor device.
  • the electronics of the sensor device are preferably based on RFID-technology.
  • For transmission of the data obtained by the sensor an RFID-IC 10 or RFID-TAG is completed by a control logic 12, an A/D 14 converter and an analogue multiplexer 16.
  • the analogue/digital converter (A/D) 14 and the analogue multiplexer 16 are electrically connected by means of the control logic 12 with the RFID chip 10 and logically switched in a way such that they are controlled by the RFID-IC 10 during the measurement process.
  • the voltage that is available during the activation phase in the RFID chip 10 is used to supply the control logic, the A/D converter 14 and the analogue multiplexer 16 with energy. If a passive responder is used for the measurement device, no battery to supply energy is necessary.
  • the components RFID-IC 10, A D converter 14 and analogue multiplexer 16 can be placed on a carrier material 18 to enhance the mechanical stability.
  • the carrier material 18 can be used at the same time to provide the necessary antenna structure 20 for the RFID-IC 10 in a convenient place.
  • the entire electronic circuitry as well as the carrier material 18 can be covered completely by an insulating material, protecting the circuitry against environmental influences.
  • an insulating material protecting the circuitry against environmental influences.
  • any kind of geometry is possible, wherein balls, ellipsis or a cylinder with rounded ends are preferred.
  • the cover of the sensor device capsule has two functions when placed in the soil. The electronic circuitry is protected from environmental influences and the surface of the cover serves as a carrier material for the ion selective sensors.
  • the dimensions of the sensor device capsule are dependent upon the size of the entire electronic circuitry and the type of the sensors 4, 6 used.
  • the sensor device capsule as constructed above is placed in the topsoil 22 (A- horizon) of the agricultural soil. To support measurements over an area of soil, distribution of a defined number of sensor device capsules 2 per area units must be guaranteed.
  • a device 24 for distributing fertilizers is provided with at least one readout device 26 (RFID-Reader).
  • the antenna of this readout device is placed on the distribution device 24 in such a way that it comes into a receiving distance of the sensor device capsule 2 while driving over the soil 22.
  • This means that the antenna of the readout devices 26 is usually sideways of the corridor, so that during movement of the distribution device it is directly positioned over the sensor device capsule 2 in the soil.
  • sensor data is obtained as follows:
  • the readout device on the fertilizer distribution device When the readout device on the fertilizer distribution device is brought into the receiving area of the RFID tag of the sensor device capsule, the RFID tag is activated through a sent impulse. [0054] Due to the sent impulse a working voltage is created for a short measurement time frame (about 150 ms).
  • Each analogue value is digitized by means of the A/D converter 14 and is transmitted from the sensor device capsule as a bit stream to the readout device.
  • processor based control devices are employed that are already used today. These are usually placed on the driving machine (tractor). The controlling as such is performed by a software running on the processor based control device and adapted to this specific purpose.
  • the data provided by the readout device is transmitted to the control device by means of a field bus system.
  • the control device is provided with the appropriate software to process the measurement data.
  • the software is open to manipulation from the outside in order to ad or substract amounts of fertilizers and/or pesticides, in order to take economic considerations into account.
  • the method according to this invention makes it possible to create maps of the obtained sensor data. Those maps, similar to methods practised today, can then be used for future product planning.
  • Mineral fertilizer is usually provided in form of bulk cargo with a maximum grain size of about 8 mm.
  • the distribution technology is based on mechanical or pneumatic methods.
  • the dosage means controlling the amounts of the substance provided (fertilizer) from the reservoir to the distribution mechanism.
  • the dosage means can be formed by an electro-mechanical flap, continuously controlling the supply of fertilizer from the reservoir to the distribution mechanism.
  • the manipulation variable calculated by the processor based control device is transmitted to the dosage means through an electric signal.
  • the dosage means translates the control signal into a proportional strain of bulk cargo.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Fertilizing (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé de surveillance et de commande de distribution d'engrais/pesticides dans des sols agricoles, comportant les étapes de définition de la zone des sols à surveiller, du nombre de capteurs nécessaires pour surveiller les sols, des endroits où placer les capteurs dans les sols, des profondeurs auxquelles placer les capteurs dans les sols, ainsi que de mise en place des capteurs aux endroits et aux profondeurs définis dans les sols, de transmission des données des capteurs à des instants définis, de calcul des quantités d'engrais/de pesticides nécessaires sur la base des données de capteurs transmises, et de distribution des quantités calculées d'engrais/de pesticides sur les sols.
PCT/EP2009/067105 2009-12-10 2009-12-14 Procédé et système de surveillance et de commande de distribution d'engrais WO2011069563A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09178734.1 2009-12-10
EP09178734 2009-12-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011069563A1 true WO2011069563A1 (fr) 2011-06-16

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014113460A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Ndsu Research Foundation Capteur biodégradable de sol, système et procédé
WO2023161763A1 (fr) * 2022-02-28 2023-08-31 Agco Corporation Appareil, système et procédé de mesure de conditions de sol

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0873677A2 (fr) * 1997-04-24 1998-10-28 Amazonen-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG Système pour déterminer les besoins d'engrais
US5870686A (en) * 1995-12-13 1999-02-09 Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc. Intelligent Mobile product application control system
US20050279069A1 (en) * 2004-06-16 2005-12-22 Cn Utility Consulting, Llc Systems, device, and methods for efficient vegetation maintenance at multiple infrastructure sites
WO2007022000A2 (fr) * 2005-08-18 2007-02-22 Deere & Company Réseau de capteur sans fil de sous-sol
US20070255502A1 (en) * 2006-05-01 2007-11-01 Pruett Michael A System and method of evaluating crop management

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5870686A (en) * 1995-12-13 1999-02-09 Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc. Intelligent Mobile product application control system
EP0873677A2 (fr) * 1997-04-24 1998-10-28 Amazonen-Werke H. Dreyer GmbH & Co. KG Système pour déterminer les besoins d'engrais
US20050279069A1 (en) * 2004-06-16 2005-12-22 Cn Utility Consulting, Llc Systems, device, and methods for efficient vegetation maintenance at multiple infrastructure sites
WO2007022000A2 (fr) * 2005-08-18 2007-02-22 Deere & Company Réseau de capteur sans fil de sous-sol
US20070255502A1 (en) * 2006-05-01 2007-11-01 Pruett Michael A System and method of evaluating crop management

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014113460A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Ndsu Research Foundation Capteur biodégradable de sol, système et procédé
US9964532B2 (en) 2013-01-15 2018-05-08 Ndsu Research Foundation Biodegradable soil sensor, system and method
WO2023161763A1 (fr) * 2022-02-28 2023-08-31 Agco Corporation Appareil, système et procédé de mesure de conditions de sol

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