Development of sensor systems for precision agriculture in cotton
Keywords:
sensor, precision agriculture (PA), cotton, yield monitor, fiber quality, plant heightAbstract
Precision agriculture (PA) is an information-based technology, using detailed information within an agricultural field to optimize production inputs on a spatially variable basis, maximize farm profit, and minimize environmental impact. Information collection and processing plays a very important role in PA. In recent years PA technologies have been gradually adopted in cotton production. Several sensor systems for PA were developed and field-evaluated in cotton, including a plant height measurement system (PHMS), the Mississippi cotton yield monitor (MCYM), and cotton fiber quality mapping. The PHMS used an ultrasonic sensor to scan the plant canopy and determine plant height in real time in situ. A plant height map was generated with the data collected with the PHMS. Cotton plant height showed a close relationship with yield (R2=0.63) and leaf-nitrogen content (R2=0.48). The MCYM was developed for cotton yield mapping. A patented mass-flow sensor technology was employed in the MCYM. The sensor measured optical reflectance of cotton particles passing through the sensor and used the measured reflectance to determine cotton-mass flow rates. Field tests indicated that the MCYM could measure cotton yield with an average error less than 5%, and it was easy to install and maintain. The cotton fiber-quality mapping research involved a wireless cotton module-tracking system (WCMTS) and a cotton fiber quality mapping system (CFQMS). The WCMTS was based on the concept that a cotton fiber-quality map could be generated with spatial information collected by the system during harvesting coupled with fiber quality information available in cotton classing offices. The WCMTS was constructed and tested, and it operated according to design, with module-level fiber-quality maps easily made from the collected data. The CFQMS was designed and fabricated to perform real-time measurement of cotton fiber quality as the cotton is harvested in the field. Test results indicated that the sensor was capable of accurately estimating fiber micronaire in lint cotton (R2=0.99), but estimating fiber quality in seed cotton was more difficult. Cotton fiber quality maps can be used with cotton yield maps for developing field profit maps and optimizing production inputs.References
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[27] Thomasson J A, Sui R. Advanced optical cotton yield monitor. In: Proc.2000 Beltwide Cotton Conf., Richter D A ed., Memphis, TN: National Cotton Council of America. 2000, 408-410.
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[29] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R. Wireless-and-GPS system for cotton fiber-quality mapping. Precision Agriculture, 2012; 13: 90-103.
[30] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Morgan C L S. A module-specific post-processing calibration to improve cotton yield mapping. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2009; 68: 161-167.
[31] Sjolander A J, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Ge Y. Wireless tracking of cotton modules. Part 1: Automatic message triggering. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011a; 75: 23-33.
[32] Sjolander A J, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Ge Y. Wireless tracking of cotton modules. Part 2: Automatic machine identification. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011b; 75: 34-43.
[33] Sui R, Thomasson J A, Ge Y, Morgan C. Multispectral sensor for in-situ cotton fiber quality measurement. Transactions of the ASABE, 2008; 51(6): 2201-2208.
[34] Schielack V P, Sui R, Thomasson J A, Hequet E, Morgan C. Harvester-based cotton fiber quality sensor. ASABE Paper No. 096264. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE, 2009.
[2] Sarwar G, Chowdhry M A, Tujammal M A. Correlation of plant height with yield and other characters in gossypium hirsutum. Pakistan Journal Agricutural Research, 1984; 5(3): 144-148.
[3] Yin X, McClure M A, Jaja N, Tyler D D, Hayes R M. In-season prediction of corn yield using plant height under major production systems. Agronomy Journal, 2011; 103(3): 923-929.
[4] Yin X, Hayes R M, McClure M A, Savoy H J. Assessment of plant biomass and nitrogen nutrition with plant height in early- to mid-season corn. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2012; 92(13): 2611-2617.
[5] Sui R, Wilkerson J B, Wilhelm L R, Tompkins F D. A microcomputer-based morphometer for bush-type plants. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, 1989; 4(1989): 43-58.
[6] Aziz S A, Steward B L, Birrell S J, Shrestha D S, Kaspar T C. Ultrasonic sensing for corn plant canopy characterization. ASAE Paper No. 041120. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASAE. 2004.
[7] Jones C L, Maness N O, Stone M L, Jayasekara R. Sonar and digital imagery for estimating crop biomass. ASAE Paper No. 043061. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASAE. 2004.
[8] Tumbo S D, Salyani M, Whitney J D, Wheaton T A, Miller W M. Investigation of laser and ultrasonic ranging sensors for measurements of citrus canopy volume. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2002; 18(3): 367-372.
[9] Searcy S W, Beck A D. Real time assessment of cotton plant height. In proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Bloomington, MN. 2000;
[10] Ehsani M R, Lang L. A sensor for rapid estimation of plant biomass. In Proc. the 6th Intl. Conf. on Precision Agri., Bloomington, MN, July, 2002; 14-17.
[11] Mooney D F, English B C, Velandia M, Larson J A, Roberts R K, Lambert D M, et al. Trends in cotton precision farming: 2000-2008. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, TN: Nat. Cotton Counc. Am. 2010; 476-481.
[12] Wilkerson J B, Kirby J S, Hart W E, Womac A R. Real-time cotton flow sensor. ASAE Paper No. 941054. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASAE. 1994.
[13] Moody F H, Wilkerson J B, Hart W E, Goodwin J E, Funk P A. Non-intrusive flow rate sensor for harvester and gin application. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, TN: Nat. Cotton Counc. Am. 2000; 410-415.
[14] Wilkerson J B, Moody F H, Hart W E. Implementation and field evaluation of a cotton yield monitor. Applied Enginerring in Agricuture, 2002; 18(2): 153-159.
[15] Durrence J S, Perry C D, Vellidis G, Thomas D L, Kvien C K. Evaluation of commercially available cotton yield monitors in Georgia field conditions. ASAE Paper No. 983106. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASAE. 1998.
[16] Sassenrath-Cole G F, Thomson S J, Williford J R, Hood K B,
Thomasson J A, Williams J, et al. Field testing of cotton yield monitors. In: Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, Tenn.: Nat. Cotton Council Am. 1999, 364-366.
[17] Wolak F J, Khalilian A, Dodd R B, Han Y J, Keshlkin M, Lippert R M, et al. Cotton yield monitor evaluation, South Carolina?year 2. In: Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, Tenn.: Nat. Cotton Council Am. 1999, 361-364.
[18] Vellidis G, Perry C D, Rains G C, Thomas D L, Wells N, Kvien C K. Simultaneous assessment of cotton yield monitors. Applied Engineering in Agricuture, 2003; 19(3): 259-272.
[19] Ping J L, Green C J, Bronson K F. Identification of relationships between cotton yield, quality, and soil properties. Agronomy Journal, 2004; 96(6): 1588-1597.
[20] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R. Variability of soil moisture content and cotton fiber quality in irrigated and dry-land cotton fields. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, TN: Nat. Cotton Counc. Am. 2006a, 2134-2142.
[21] Ge Y, Sui R, Thomasson J A. Influence of soil moisture content upon cotton fiber quality for both irrigated and rainfed cotton. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, TN: Nat. Cotton Counc. Am. 2006b, 469-474.
[22] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R. Spatial variability of fiber quality in a dryland cotton field. In Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. Memphis, TN: Nat. Cotton Council. Am. 2007, 929-937.
[23] Sui R, Thomasson J A. Ground-based sensing system for cotton nitrogen status determination. Transactions of the ASABE, 2006; 49(6): 1983-1991.
[24] Thomasson J A, Sui R. Optical-reflectance-based mass-flow sensor. US Patent No.: 6809821, 2004.
[25] Thomasson J A, Sui R. Mississippi cotton yield monitor: three years of field test results. Applied Engineering in
Agriculture, 2003; 19(6): 631-636.
[26] Sui R, Thomasson J A, Mehrle R, Dale M, Perry C D, Rains G. Mississippi cotton yield monitor: beta test for commercialization. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2004; 42(3): 149-160.
[27] Thomasson J A, Sui R. Advanced optical cotton yield monitor. In: Proc.2000 Beltwide Cotton Conf., Richter D A ed., Memphis, TN: National Cotton Council of America. 2000, 408-410.
[28] Sui R, Thomasson J A. Test of temperature and stray-light effect on mass-flow sensor for cotton yield monitor. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2002; 18(4): 127-132.
[29] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R. Wireless-and-GPS system for cotton fiber-quality mapping. Precision Agriculture, 2012; 13: 90-103.
[30] Ge Y, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Morgan C L S. A module-specific post-processing calibration to improve cotton yield mapping. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2009; 68: 161-167.
[31] Sjolander A J, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Ge Y. Wireless tracking of cotton modules. Part 1: Automatic message triggering. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011a; 75: 23-33.
[32] Sjolander A J, Thomasson J A, Sui R, Ge Y. Wireless tracking of cotton modules. Part 2: Automatic machine identification. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011b; 75: 34-43.
[33] Sui R, Thomasson J A, Ge Y, Morgan C. Multispectral sensor for in-situ cotton fiber quality measurement. Transactions of the ASABE, 2008; 51(6): 2201-2208.
[34] Schielack V P, Sui R, Thomasson J A, Hequet E, Morgan C. Harvester-based cotton fiber quality sensor. ASABE Paper No. 096264. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE, 2009.
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2012-12-11
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Sui, R., Thomasson, J. A., & Ge, Y. (2012). Development of sensor systems for precision agriculture in cotton. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 5(4), 1–14. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/625
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