Field measurement of soil element concentration
First Claim
1. A system for measuring soil element concentration in an agricultural field as the system moves through the agricultural field, comprisingan extraction apparatus coupled to a mobility component configured to move the system through the agricultural field,the extraction apparatus configured to receive a plurality of soil samples in succession, from different locations in the agricultural field, from a soil probe coupled to the mobility component, while the mobility component is operating,the extraction apparatus containing an extractant solution that is a solvent of the plurality of soil samples;
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a chemical sensor coupled to the extraction apparatus, the chemical sensor configured to measure a concentration level of a soil element in the solution mix;
a processor coupled to the chemical sensor, the processor configured to calculate a concentration level of the soil element in each of the plurality of soil samples after the soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus and before a successive soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a system for measuring soil element concentration in a field in real time is disclosed. The system comprises an extraction apparatus coupled to a mobility component configured to move the system in the agricultural field. The extraction apparatus configured to receive a plurality of soil samples successively from a soil probe coupled to the mobility component, when the mobility component is operating. The extraction apparatus containing an extractant solution that is a solvent of the soil samples. In addition, the extraction apparatus comprising a mixer that is configured to mix the soil samples with the extractant solution, thereby forming a solution mix. The system also comprises a chemical sensor coupled to the extraction apparatus, the chemical sensor configured to measure a concentration level of a soil element in the solution mix. Furthermore, the system comprises a processor coupled to the chemical sensor, the processor configured to calculate a concentration level of the soil element in each of the plurality of soil samples after the soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus and before a successive soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for measuring soil element concentration in an agricultural field as the system moves through the agricultural field, comprising
an extraction apparatus coupled to a mobility component configured to move the system through the agricultural field, the extraction apparatus configured to receive a plurality of soil samples in succession, from different locations in the agricultural field, from a soil probe coupled to the mobility component, while the mobility component is operating, the extraction apparatus containing an extractant solution that is a solvent of the plurality of soil samples; - and
the extraction apparatus comprising a mixer that is configured to mix the plurality of successively collected soil samples with the extractant solution, thereby forming a solution mix; a chemical sensor coupled to the extraction apparatus, the chemical sensor configured to measure a concentration level of a soil element in the solution mix; a processor coupled to the chemical sensor, the processor configured to calculate a concentration level of the soil element in each of the plurality of soil samples after the soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus and before a successive soil sample is received by the extraction apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented method of measuring soil ingredient concentration in a field, comprising:
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detecting an extraction apparatus coupled to a mobility component and a chemical sensor coupled to the extraction apparatus, the extraction apparatus comprising a mixer and a container holding an extractant solution, the mobility component configured for movement through the field; and during movement of the mobility component until a stopping condition is reached, for each of a plurality of locations reached by the mobility component, performing; causing the extraction apparatus to receive a soil sample from the location from a soil probe coupled to the mobility component; causing the mixer to mix the soil sample into the extractant solution forming a solution mix containing successively collected soil samples; receiving a reading from the chemical sensor of a concentration level of a target analyte in the solution mix; and calculating a concentration level of the target analyte in the soil sample from the reading, before a successive soil sample from a different location is received by the extraction apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification