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

• US 7,184,859 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/888,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20050038568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 962 Days
• Field of Search: 700/284, 702/5, 382/110
• US Class Current: 700/284
• 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 generating a prescription for controlling the application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field based on current observed crop conditions, comprising:

processing remotely sensed digital image data characterizing spatial variation of currently existing growth vigor of said crop to provide a data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes current crop vigor throughout said field;

receiving information on current actual crop conditions at control points within said field wherein said actual crop conditions is correlated with corresponding data in said data set; and

generating a prescription based on the current observed crop conditions and said spatially distributed vegetation index data in said data set for controlling the application of said agricultural inputs to crops growing in a field.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data is generated as an image file.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said image file is a scout map.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said prescription is generated as an image file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said image file is a prescription map.

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

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

to generate 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

generating a prescription for controlling the application of agricultural inputs to said crops based on the current observed crop conditions and said spatially distributed vegetation index data.

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

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

8. 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.

9. A method to provide a prescription for controlling application of agricultural inputs to a crop growing in a field based on current observed crop conditions comprising:

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

(b) providing spatially distributed vegetation index data which characterizes current existing growth vigor of said crop derived from said remotely sensed digital image data;

(c) receiving a prescription request based on current actual crop conditions at control points within said field and a correlation of observed crop conditions with said spatially distributed vegetation index data; and

(d) providing a prescription based on said current observed crop conditions and said spatially distributed vegetation index for controlling the application of said agricultural inputs.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said data set comprising spatially distributed vegetation index data is generated as an image file.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said image file is a prescription map.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said image file is a scout map.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said prescription is generated as an image file.