Systems, methods, and apparatus for soil and seed monitoring
First Claim
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1. A monitoring system for an agricultural planting implement having at least one row unit, a row unit opening a trench and depositing seeds into the trench, the monitoring system comprising:
- a seed firmer resiliently engaging the trench, the seed firmer disposed to firm the seeds into a lower portion of the trench;
a reflectivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer, said reflectivity sensor disposed to measure one or more reflectivity values of said lower portion of the trench;
an electrical conductivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer, said electrical conductivity sensor disposed to measure an electrical conductivity value of soil in said trench;
an implement monitor in data communication with said reflectivity sensor and said electrical conductivity sensor,wherein said implement monitor is configured to;
determine seed pulses and seed pulse timings for said trench based on said one or more reflectivity values by identifying at least one of said one or more reflectivity values that exceeds a threshold value associated with passage of seeds beneath the seed firmer; and
calculate an in-trench spacing value based on said seed pulses, said seed pulse timings, a time and a distance between seeds identified for the trench.
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.
98 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for an agricultural planting implement having at least one row unit, a row unit opening a trench and depositing seeds into the trench, the monitoring system comprising:
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a seed firmer resiliently engaging the trench, the seed firmer disposed to firm the seeds into a lower portion of the trench; a reflectivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer, said reflectivity sensor disposed to measure one or more reflectivity values of said lower portion of the trench; an electrical conductivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer, said electrical conductivity sensor disposed to measure an electrical conductivity value of soil in said trench; an implement monitor in data communication with said reflectivity sensor and said electrical conductivity sensor, wherein said implement monitor is configured to; determine seed pulses and seed pulse timings for said trench based on said one or more reflectivity values by identifying at least one of said one or more reflectivity values that exceeds a threshold value associated with passage of seeds beneath the seed firmer; and calculate an in-trench spacing value based on said seed pulses, said seed pulse timings, a time and a distance between seeds identified for the trench. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method for an agricultural planting implement having at least one row unit, a row unit opening a trench and depositing seeds into the trench, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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resiliently engaging, by a seed firmer, the trench as the seed firmer is disposed to firm the seeds into a lower portion of the trench; measuring, by a reflectivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer, one or more reflectivity values of said lower portion of the trench; measuring an electrical conductivity value of soil in said trench by an electrical conductivity sensor mounted to said seed firmer; monitoring, by an implement monitor in data communication with said reflectivity sensor and said electrical conductivity sensor, to; determine seed pulses and seed pulse timings for said trench based on said one or more reflectivity values by identifying at least one of said one or more reflectivity values that exceeds a threshold value associated with passage of seeds beneath the seed firmer; and calculate an in-trench spacing value based on said seed pulses, said seed pulse timings, a time and a distance between seeds identified for the trench. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification