Method and system of evaluating performance of a crop
First Claim
1. A method for evaluating performance of a crop, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining environmental measurements associated with a geographic region, each environmental measurement including at least one of soil data derived from measurements of a soil characteristic sensor and weather data derived from measurements of a weather sensor;
obtaining respective location data associated with corresponding environmental measurements;
determining an estimated performance characteristic for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data;
establishing contours of one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region comprising multiple fields by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements;
identifying critical environmental measurement identifiers associated with corresponding critical values or critical ranges for one or more of the uniform performance areas; and
estimating a geographic marketing opportunity or market size for seed or a precursor of a particular crop variety within the geographic region based on at least one of the uniform performance areas, the critical environmental measurement identifiers, and the critical values and the critical ranges, without estimating of any potential economic profit or loss of any grower within the geographic region.
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Abstract
A method and system of evaluating crop performance facilitates characterization of the environmental impact of a geographic region or areas within the region for growing plant-life. Environmental measurements are obtained. The environmental measurements are associated with a geographic region. Each environmental measurement includes at least one of soil data and weather data. Respective location data is obtained. The location data is associated with corresponding environmental measurements. An estimated performance characteristic is determined for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data. Contours are established for one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements.
94 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating performance of a crop, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining environmental measurements associated with a geographic region, each environmental measurement including at least one of soil data derived from measurements of a soil characteristic sensor and weather data derived from measurements of a weather sensor; obtaining respective location data associated with corresponding environmental measurements; determining an estimated performance characteristic for a particular crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements and respective location data; establishing contours of one or more uniform performance areas with generally uniform performance characteristic within the geographic region comprising multiple fields by applying a decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements; identifying critical environmental measurement identifiers associated with corresponding critical values or critical ranges for one or more of the uniform performance areas; and estimating a geographic marketing opportunity or market size for seed or a precursor of a particular crop variety within the geographic region based on at least one of the uniform performance areas, the critical environmental measurement identifiers, and the critical values and the critical ranges, without estimating of any potential economic profit or loss of any grower within the geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for evaluating the performance of a crop, the system comprising the steps of:
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a sensing device for obtaining environmental measurements corresponding to test sites within a geographic region, each environmental measurement including at least one of soil data, weather data, rainfall, and growing degree days; a yield estimator for determining an estimated yield for a crop planted in the geographic region based on the obtained environmental measurements; and a mapper for establishing contours of one or more areas with generally uniform yields within the geographic region by applying decision-tree analysis to the obtained environmental measurements; an evaluator for identifying critical environmental measurement identifiers associated with corresponding critical values or critical ranges for one or more of the uniform performance areas; and a data analyzer for estimating a geographic area for a customer base or market size for seed or precursor of a particular crop variety based on at least one of the uniform performance areas, the critical environmental measurement identifiers, and the critical values and the critical ranges, without estimating any potential economic profit or loss of any grower within the geographic region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification