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Using Sensors in Agriculture
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Using Sensors in Agriculture
The ATV mounted pasture sensor. This has been subject to a great deal of testing over recent months and this testing will continue over the summer as the unit is prepared for its commercial launch in the autumn. This sensor will commercially available through C-Dax of Palmerston North.It is a high-speed method of accurately measuring pasture mass, with the prime market being intensive grazing systems, such as, dairying and beef fattening.
Also mounted on an ATV is a electromagnetic device for mapping soil texture and soil water availability.
This technique has been used for a number of years but through research, it is clear that it produces a great deal of useful information regarding the soil. When linked to GPS it provides a level of mapping detail which has never been possible in the past. Up until now the most common use of the sensor is to evaluate soils for the vineyards. But it clearly has applications for those involved in irrigation for cropping and dairying. The unit senses top 1 m of soil. As well as differentiating soil types, it will also detect when the soil has been damaged through compaction for example.
An RTKDGPS (Real Time Kinematic Differential GPS) is used with the sensor to generate a very accurate topographic map at the same time. Here Ian Yule is explaining some of the finer points of using the system.
The team have brought in sensors from overseas that are robust enough to be fitted to two wheel motorbikes in order to sample more rugged terrain. The purpose of this is to evaluate pasture cover on hill country.
The sensor uses near infrared reflectance which can be used to give an estimate of pasture cover. There are a number of factors that affect near infrared reflectance readings and the team will try to go behind the hype and work out just what is possible with these types of sensors. Initial indications are that these sensors are less accurate than the pasture metre when used in intensive systems but they could provide very useful information on the quantity of feed available in set stock situations.
A similar unit more suited to looking at soil will also be tested. Initial results show some promise. These sensors have a large number of applications in, viticulture, horticulture, cropping, pastoral farming and sports turf. Experiments planned for the summer period will build up experience with these sensors.
As well as looking at the amount of pasture produced it is also important to look at the amount consumed by animals. Again some testing has taken place where dairy cows have been fitted with GPS collars in order to track their position. The purpose of this is to observe the cows gazing behaviour and attempt to reconcile this with the amount and quality of pasture available.
The team have also been working on incorporating a number of sensors in one system in order to improve the efficiency of information gathering.
Honda New Zealand have been kind enough to assist the group with the long term loan of a new Honda FourTrax ATV.
As well as commercial activities the centre is keen to recruit further post graduate students to assist with these projects
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nzcpa
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Thursday 08 December 2005 - 12:25:57
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