Sensor-based chemical management for agricultural landscapes

• US 8,558,157 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyle H. Holland Trustee Of The Maranatha Trust
• Original Assignee: Kyle H. Holland Trustee Of The Maranatha Trust
• Inventors: Holland, Kyle H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US12/815,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 250/206.1, 382/110, 702/2, 702/5
• US Class Current: 250/206.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/002 Apparatus for sowing fertiliser; Fertiliser drill

Abstract

An apparatus for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes a dispensing system configured for dispensing the agrochemicals and a variable rate controller operatively connected to the dispensing system and configured to control dispensement of agrochemicals from the dispensing system. The variable rate controller is programmed with an algorithm which uses a plant growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration. A method for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes acquiring a growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration, using the growth state appropriate plug value in the initial calibration, and applying agrochemicals to the geographical area according to the initial calibration.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a system for treating plants growing in a field, comprising the steps of:

(a) passing an optical sensor over a portion of the field;

(b) measuring with the sensor a plant growth parameter at a plurality of locations within the field to thereby provide a set of plant growth parameter measurements; and

(c) analyzing the set of the plant growth parameter measurements to generate a normalized response function for the field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a real-time sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is carried on an agricultural implement.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the agricultural implement comprises an applicator for applying an agricultural treatment to the plants.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein operation of the applicator is controlled in response to the normalized response function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is flown over the field.

7. The method of claim 6, Wherein the sensor is carried on an airplane.

8. The method of claim 6, Wherein the sensor is carried on a satellite.

9. A method for applying a controlled amount of a chemical treatment to a crop growing in a field, comprising the steps of:

(a) passing an optical sensor over a part of the field;

(b) measuring with the sensor a crop growth parameter at a plurality of locations within the field to provide a set of crop growth parameter measurements;

(c) analyzing the set of crop growth parameter measurements to generate a normalized response function for the field;

(d) mounting an optical sensor on an applicator associated with an agricultural implement for the chemical treatment for transport across the field to sense the crop growth parameter at a location in the field; and

(e) applying the chemical treatment on the crop at the location in the field in an amount that is adjusted in response to the crop growth parameter for the location as compared to the normalized response function.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the optical sensor is a real-time sensor.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the passing the optical sensor over the part of the field comprises flying the optical sensor over the part of the field.