System for indicating water stress in crops which inhibits data collection if solar insolation exceeds a range from an initial measured value
First Claim
1. An apparatus for indicating water stress of a growing agricultural crop comprising:
- sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters related to a growing crop from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined and for generating a plurality of sensor signals respectively representative of the sensed parameters, said sensor means including an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature and solar radiation sensor means for sensing the intensity of incident solar radiation;
electronic means, operatively connected to said sensor means, for controllably receiving the sensor signals from said sensor means, and for deriving therefrom at least one index of the water stress condition of the crop, said electronic means including means for receiving solar radiation intensity measurements, means for comparing a said solar radiation intensity measurement to a range of solar radiation intensities including a reference intensity to determine if said solar radiation intensity measurement is within said range, and means for rejecting a canopy temperature measurement if the solar radiation intensity measurement is outside the range;
input means, operatively connected to said electronic means, for selective control by a human operator of the receipt of said sensor signals from said sensor means; and
output means, operatively connected to said electronic means, for visually displaying said at least one index to an operator of said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for indicating whether irrigation of an agricultural crop is required based on the measurement of crop water stress. The apparatus and method include a plurality of sensors for sensing a plurality of conditions related to the agricultural area, including crop canopy and air temperatures, and relative humidity, from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined, and for generating signals representative of each of the sensed parameters; an electronic device connected to the sensors receiving the sensor signals for determining therefrom the water stress condition of the crop; and an output device connected to the electronic device for visually displaying the calculated water stress index. The apparatus may be embodied in a portable unit that provides immediate analysis of environmental and crop data along with the crop water stress index. To ensure that measurements are taken under generally similar light conditions, an initial solar insolation value is compared to a value measured during each subsequent data collection. The canopy temperature measurement is rejected if insolation is not within a range of the initial value, thereby inhibiting calculation of the crop water stress index.
141 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indicating water stress of a growing agricultural crop comprising:
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sensor means for sensing a plurality of parameters related to a growing crop from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined and for generating a plurality of sensor signals respectively representative of the sensed parameters, said sensor means including an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature and solar radiation sensor means for sensing the intensity of incident solar radiation; electronic means, operatively connected to said sensor means, for controllably receiving the sensor signals from said sensor means, and for deriving therefrom at least one index of the water stress condition of the crop, said electronic means including means for receiving solar radiation intensity measurements, means for comparing a said solar radiation intensity measurement to a range of solar radiation intensities including a reference intensity to determine if said solar radiation intensity measurement is within said range, and means for rejecting a canopy temperature measurement if the solar radiation intensity measurement is outside the range; input means, operatively connected to said electronic means, for selective control by a human operator of the receipt of said sensor signals from said sensor means; and output means, operatively connected to said electronic means, for visually displaying said at least one index to an operator of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A portable apparatus for indicating water stress of an agricultural crop being grown in a field, said apparatus comprising;
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a housing; a plurality of sensor means, at least some of said sensor means carried by said housing, for sensing a plurality of parameters related to a crop growing in a field from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined and for generating a plurality of sensor signals respectively representative of the sensed parameters, said sensor means including an infrared thermometer for sensing crop canopy temperature and solar radiation sensor means for sensing the intensity of incident solar radiation; electronic means, mounted in said housing and operatively connected to said sensor means, for controllably receiving the sensor signals from said sensor means, and for deriving therefrom in said field at least one index of the water stress condition of the crop, said electronic means including means for receiving solar radiation intensity measurements, means for comparing a said solar radiation intensity measurement to a range of solar radiation intensities including a reference intensity to determine if said solar radiation intensity measurement is within said range, and means for rejecting a canopy temperature measurement if the solar radiation intensity measurement is outside the range; input means carried by said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means, for selective control by a human operator of the receipt of said sensor signals from said sensor means; and output means, carried by said housing and operatively connected to said electronic means, for visually displaying said at least one index to said operator in said field. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining the water stress condition of an agricultural crop being grown in a field, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a plurality of different parameters related to a crop growing in a field from which the water stress condition of the crop can be determined including the intensity of incident solar radiation and the crop canopy temperature, at a plurality of different locations in the field; generating sensor signals representative of each of the sensed parameters; supplying said signals to an electronic device operatively connected to the sensors, comparing the sensed solar radiation intensity to a range of solar radiation intensities including a reference intensity, rejecting the crop canopy temperature measurement if the sensed solar radiation intensity is outside the range and, if the sensed solar radiation intensity is within the range, calculating with said electronic device in said field from said signals at least one index of the water stress condition of the crop; and visually displaying to a human in said field the at least one calculated water stress index. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification