Method and system for spatially variable rate application of agricultural chemicals based on remotely sensed vegetation data

• US 20050038568A1
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intime, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intime, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, James William, Lewis, Mark David, Seal, Michael R., Hood, Kenneth Brown
• Granted Patent: US 7,184,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture

Abstract

Remotely sensed spectral image data are used to develop a Vegetation Index file which represents spatial variations of actual crop vigor throughout a field that is under cultivation. The latter information is processed to place it in a format that can be used by farm personnel to correlate and calibrate it with actually observed crop conditions existing at control points within the field. Based on the results, farm personnel formulate a prescription request, which is forwarded via email or FTP to a central processing site, where the prescription is prepared. The latter is returned via email or FTP to on-side farm personnel, who can load it into a controller on a spray rig that directly applies inputs to the field at a spatially variable rate.

Claims

1. A method for controlling application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field, comprising:

acquiring remotely sensed digital image data characterizing spatial variation of currently existing growth vigor of said crop;

processing said digital image data to provide a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes current crop vigor throughout said field;

inspecting current actual crop conditions at control points within said field and correlating observed crop conditions with corresponding data in said data set; and

generating a prescription based on said current observed crop conditions and said spatially distributed vegetation index data in said data set; and

controlling application of said agricultural inputs according to said prescription.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of generating a prescription comprises:

generating a prescription request as a function of said observed crop conditions and said spatially distributed vegetation index data in said data set;

communicating said prescription request to a data processor at a data processing site; and

said data processor generating said prescription, based on said prescription request and on said spatially distributed vegetation index data in said data set.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said data processing site is at a location remote from said field.

2. (cancelled).

5. (cancelled).

6. A method for controlling application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field comprising:

acquiring remotely sensed digital spectral data which characterizes currently existing conditions of said crop throughout said field;

processing said multispectral digital data to generate a digital map of said field, which map characterizes spatially differentiated existing growth vigor of said crop within said field;

generating a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes said crop throughout said field;

entering said data set into a computer;

entering information into said computer that is indicative of observed crop conditions at selected locations within said field and correlating said information with data in said data set; and

applying agricultural inputs to said crop at an application rate which varies specially throughout said field as a function of spatially distributed current crop vigor based on information contained in said map.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

generating a prescription request as a function of said observed crop conditions correlated with said spatially distributed vegetation index data in said data set;

communicating a prescription request to a data processor at a data processing site; and

said data processor generating said prescription, based on a prescription request and on said data in said data set.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said data processing site is at a location remote from said field.

7. (cancelled).

10. (cancelled).

11. A system for application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field, comprising:

means for obtaining digital image data that characterize spatial variation of currently existing growth vigor of said crop at a point in time;

centrally located data processing means for processing said digital image data to provide a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes currently existing growth vigor of said crop throughout said field at said point in time, and for storing and communicating said data set;

a first communication medium for transmitting said spatially distributed vegetation index data to an on-site location in proximity to said field; and

a portable processor programmed to receive and display said spatially distributed vegetation index data, receive entry of localized crop information at predetermined points in said field based on a physical on-site inspection, and prepare prescription requests based on currently existing growth vigor of said crop as defined in said spatially distributed vegetation index data, said localized crop information and inputs by personnel situated at said on-site location;

wherein said centrally located data processing means includes means for generating a prescription in response to said prescription request, and a second communication medium for communicating said prescription to said controller;

a control unit which is programmed to control spatial variation of an application rate of said agricultural inputs by a spray rig, as a function of said currently existing growth vigor of said crop.

12. -16. (cancelled).