Soil constituent sensor and precision agrichemical delivery system and method
First Claim
1. A method for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising the steps of:
- penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, andapplying a voltage differential across said sample and determining a parameter related to said soil constituent while traversing said sample.
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Abstract
A real time soil constituent sensor and precision agricultural chemical delivery system may measure simple in situ soil constituents without the aid of externally applied solvents, or such solvents may be utilized intermittently to calibrate the measurements for greater accuracy. A real time complex in situ soil resistivity sensor and prescription agricultural chemical delivery system includes a plurality of ground-engaging tools in association with individual soil electrode arrays which measure complex solute and matrix resistivity levels. Conventional ground-engaging tools may serve as electrodes for impressing a voltage source and serve as a current sink for the purposes of determining complex resistivity values and components thereof in in situ soils. Alternatively, local resistivity measurements in a single tool can also be employed for separation of resistivity contributions of the soil solute and the matrix. For calibration, to enhance the accuracy of in situ measurements of matrix resistivity, a plurality of reference fluids of known conductivity are periodically injected at the interface between electrodes on a single tool and the in situ soil. A real-time soil solute and matrix sensor and controller senses and separates the resistivity contributions of the solute and matrix and compares these components against target levels or schedules and adjusts a servo-controlled delivery system to apply the appropriate amount of agricultural chemical substantially in the location from which a calibrated complex soil resistivity measurement was taken.
53 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining a parameter related to said soil constituent while traversing said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising:
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means for penetrating the soil while traversing a first soil sample, and means for applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining a parameter related to said soil constituent while traversing said sample. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A sensor system for sensing a soil constituent, comprising:
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support means adapted for connection to a source of locomotion, shank means depending therefrom for penetrating soil and supporting at least one electrode electrically isolated therefrom, and means for applying a voltage differential through the soil sample coupled thereto and determining a parameter related to a constituent of said soil sample. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A sensor system for sensing a soil constituent, comprising:
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coulter means for penetrating soil and serving as electrodes for applying a voltage differential through the soil sample coupled thereto, and means for determining a parameter related to a constituent of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A sensor system for sensing a soil constituent, comprising:
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support means for supporting a plurality of integrated soil penetrating and electrode-serving means in electrical isolation, and means for applying a voltage differential through a soil sample coupled thereto and determining a parameter related to a constituent of said soil sample. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A sensor system for sensing a soil constituent, comprising:
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support means adapted for connection to a source of locomotion, means depending therefrom for penetrating the soil of a soil sample and applying a fluid to a portion of said soil sample, and means for applying a voltage differential across a soil sample in the presence of said fluid and in the absence of said fluid to determine respective values of a parameter related to said soil constituent. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining resistivity of said sample.
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29. A system for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising:
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means for penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and means for applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining resistivity of said sample.
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30. A method for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil to determine a parameter related to depth of topsoil, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining said parameter related to depth of topsoil.
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31. A system for sensing substantially instantaneously at least one constituent of a soil while traversing a field of said soil to determine a parameter related to depth of topsoil, comprising:
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means for penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and means for applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining said parameter related to depth of topsoil.
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32. A method for sensing substantially instantaneously the resistivity of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising the steps of:
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penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining resistivity of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A system for sensing substantially instantaneously the resistivity of a soil while traversing a field of said soil, comprising:
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means for penetrating the soil of a first soil sample while traversing said sample, and means for applying a voltage differential across said sample and determining resistivity of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification