Yield mapping Combinable Crops, Potential & Problems, An initial Phd Seminar Seminar

Yield Mapping Yield Mapping Combinable Crops.Combinable Crops.Potential & ProblemsPotential & Problems

An introductory Presentation ofAn introductory Presentation of::PhD Research TopicPhD Research Topic

ByBy::AKBAR SANAEIAKBAR SANAEI

SupervisorSupervisor:: Dr. I.J. YuleDr. I.J. Yule

Agricultural Engineering Group, AgricultureAgricultural Engineering Group, Agriculture& & Environmental Science DepartmentEnvironmental Science Department

The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne ––EnglandEngland

10-1110-11 April 1995April 1995

The First Oral Presentation Of PhD The First Oral Presentation Of PhD Research by Akbar Sanaei Research by Akbar Sanaei 22

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

The The automatic continuous yield automatic continuous yield measurement omeasurement of f graingrain (RDS (RDS Ceres System) with combine Ceres System) with combine harvester based on harvester based on position position detection with the GPSdetection with the GPS has has been investigating at Nafferton been investigating at Nafferton Research Farm of the Research Farm of the Newcastle University since 1993.Newcastle University since 1993.


ABSTRACT 2ABSTRACT 2 The data analysis and evaluation leads The data analysis and evaluation leads

to to produce yield mapproduce yield map for any plot and for any plot and entire experimental operation.entire experimental operation.

Raster and contour graphicsRaster and contour graphics are are prepared using both Uniras (prepared using both Uniras (Unimap)Unimap) as a powerful interactive software) and as a powerful interactive software) and GIS (GIS (Arc/Info)Arc/Info) as a programming & as a programming & multi-disciplinary field package).multi-disciplinary field package).


OVERVIEWOVERVIEW Agricultural engineers have a pivotal role to Agricultural engineers have a pivotal role to

play in developing precision farming systems. play in developing precision farming systems.

Precision (site-specific) farming is one of the Precision (site-specific) farming is one of the few topics that benefit the environment and few topics that benefit the environment and the farmer. the farmer.

Precision farming system offer cost effective Precision farming system offer cost effective use of agricultural inputs leading to use of agricultural inputs leading to optimisation of production effectively while at optimisation of production effectively while at the same time reducing the risk of pollution the same time reducing the risk of pollution from the over application of pesticides and from the over application of pesticides and fertilisers.fertilisers.


ContinueContinue…….. Yield mapsYield maps can be produced that indicate the can be produced that indicate the

production level of production level of small cells small cells within a field. within a field.

This allows the This allows the farmer to match his inputsfarmer to match his inputs to to the yield potential of that the yield potential of that individual cell.individual cell.

In this context , In this context , one important elementone important element is is farm machineryfarm machinery and equipment involved. and equipment involved.

It is of great importance that the cereal It is of great importance that the cereal harvesting operation is effectively carried out harvesting operation is effectively carried out and machines are performing to their and machines are performing to their maximum capacity.maximum capacity.


ContinueContinue…….... Improvement in technologyImprovement in technology have made it have made it

possible to automatically measure combinable possible to automatically measure combinable crop yieldcrop yield to a resolution of to a resolution of 250 readings per 250 readings per hectarehectare..

Yield mapping techniquesYield mapping techniques have been put have been put forward as a possible means of representing forward as a possible means of representing this data in a this data in a Unimap Unimap (as a graphic interactive (as a graphic interactive package) and package) and GIS GIS (as a programming & multi-(as a programming & multi-disciplinary field package). disciplinary field package).

Some Some GIS based management systemsGIS based management systems have have been attempted in the been attempted in the USAUSA. These are linked . These are linked to either an to either an expert systemexpert system or or simulation simulation modemodel to act as l to act as a management tool.a management tool.


Main ObjectiveMain Objective

To design a data acquisition To design a data acquisition system for cereal harvesting system for cereal harvesting for input to GIS and also for input to GIS and also Unimap as an interactive Unimap as an interactive package.package.


Specific ObjectivesSpecific Objectives 1- Develop methods to establish the accuracy 1- Develop methods to establish the accuracy

of a GPS (Global Positioning System) locating of a GPS (Global Positioning System) locating a combine harvester in the field. a combine harvester in the field.

2- Measure the variation in crop moisture 2- Measure the variation in crop moisture content with time as it reaches the grain tank content with time as it reaches the grain tank of the combine.of the combine.

3-To establish the lag time between crop 3-To establish the lag time between crop entering the combine harvester and passing entering the combine harvester and passing the continuous yield meter to calculate the the continuous yield meter to calculate the displacement between yield measurement displacement between yield measurement and positional measurement.and positional measurement.


Specific Objectives 2Specific Objectives 2 4- Relate(3) to machine loading and 4- Relate(3) to machine loading and

crop moisture content.crop moisture content.

5- Identify and adapt statistical method 5- Identify and adapt statistical method for preparing data before being for preparing data before being entered in to a Geographical entered in to a Geographical Information System.Information System.

6-Build a geographical information 6-Build a geographical information system capable of supporting spatially system capable of supporting spatially variable farm management systems.variable farm management systems.


WHAT IS YIELD WHAT IS YIELD MAPPINGMAPPING? ?

- A process leads to produce a - A process leads to produce a yield contour (or raster) map aided yield contour (or raster) map aided by GPS & GIS (or Unimap etc.).by GPS & GIS (or Unimap etc.).

- Yield map not only gives the - Yield map not only gives the total yield but also shows the total yield but also shows the spatially yield variation within the spatially yield variation within the field.field.


HowHow? ?

- By the amalgamation of yield - By the amalgamation of yield sensing monitors on moving sensing monitors on moving combine harvesters and combine harvesters and recording the precise position to recording the precise position to within a few meters using GPS within a few meters using GPS etc.etc.


WHYWHY? ?

- - Because of natural spatially Because of natural spatially variability within field or variability within field or farm.farm.


WHAT IS SPATIALLY WHAT IS SPATIALLY VARIABLE TECHNOLOGYVARIABLE TECHNOLOGY? ?

- - NOWNOW; Current farming techniques ; Current farming techniques are uniformly while the fields are not are uniformly while the fields are not uniform in all aspects such as ;uniform in all aspects such as ;

- Soil properties - Soil properties - Climatic factors- Climatic factors - Field topography- Field topography - Crop characteristics like crop yield- Crop characteristics like crop yield


ContinueContinue………….. - - FUTUREFUTURE; Developing precision ; Developing precision

(prescription or site-specific) farming (prescription or site-specific) farming correlate to spatially variable correlate to spatially variable technology.technology.

- By using; equipment that would - By using; equipment that would automatically apply varying rates of automatically apply varying rates of agro-chemical inputs (e.g. fertiliser , agro-chemical inputs (e.g. fertiliser , pesticide and herbicide etc.) in the fields.pesticide and herbicide etc.) in the fields.


WHAT IS PRECISION WHAT IS PRECISION FARMINGFARMING? ?

- It allows the area of - It allows the area of treatment to be reduced treatment to be reduced from a field to a few square from a field to a few square meters.meters.


MAIN PARTS OF CREATING MAIN PARTS OF CREATING PRECISION FARMING PRECISION FARMING

- - Yield mapYield map: : Displays total yield and spatially Displays total yield and spatially yield variation within the field.yield variation within the field.

- - Treatment (prescription) mapTreatment (prescription) map: : Displays Displays precise lcation and quantity of the treatment precise lcation and quantity of the treatment within the field.within the field.

- - Decision support systemsDecision support systems: : a collection of a collection of software tools for managing the specific software tools for managing the specific information that is needed to decideinformation that is needed to decide. .


PROBLEMSPROBLEMS The Most of relevant researchers have The Most of relevant researchers have

mentioned some serious problems in mentioned some serious problems in every involved technologies in relation every involved technologies in relation to produce crop yield maps since a few to produce crop yield maps since a few last years as follows;last years as follows;

**YIELD METERING SYSTEMYIELD METERING SYSTEM 1- The data being output from the 1- The data being output from the

yield meter must be time tagged.yield meter must be time tagged. * A software is needed in order to relate positions with yield values.* A software is needed in order to relate positions with yield values.


Other PROBLEMSOther PROBLEMS 2- The format of data obtained from the yield meter 2- The format of data obtained from the yield meter

is not readable.is not readable. * A software is needed to convert the format of these data to a more * A software is needed to convert the format of these data to a more

readable.readable.

3- The error in determining grain flow through out 3- The error in determining grain flow through out the machine.the machine.

* Some affected factors are as follows;* Some affected factors are as follows; - Space available on the machine.- Space available on the machine. - Physical variables of the grain.- Physical variables of the grain. - Machine vibration.- Machine vibration. - Electronic noise.- Electronic noise. - Topography.- Topography. - Environmental conditions- Environmental conditions - Grain transportation delay.- Grain transportation delay.


And Other PROBLEMSAnd Other PROBLEMS……

4- Calibration for different machines & crops.4- Calibration for different machines & crops. 5- Different combine configurations.5- Different combine configurations. 6- Minimal knowledge of grain dynamics of 6- Minimal knowledge of grain dynamics of

combine.combine. 7- Not directly sensing grain moisture and 7- Not directly sensing grain moisture and

temperature.temperature. 8- Accuracy & Precision.8- Accuracy & Precision. 9- Simplicity & Acceptance by the users.9- Simplicity & Acceptance by the users.


Positioning ProblemsPositioning Problems

* POSITIONING DETECTION * POSITIONING DETECTION Using GPS .Using GPS . 10- Loss of satellite signal in area with tree, 10- Loss of satellite signal in area with tree,

buildings and hills coverage.buildings and hills coverage. 11- Jumping the clock on the GPS.11- Jumping the clock on the GPS. 12- Obtaining error both base station and 12- Obtaining error both base station and

mobile were 'seeing' different constellations of mobile were 'seeing' different constellations of satellites.satellites.

13- Highly accuracy & precision.13- Highly accuracy & precision. GPS OR DGPSGPS OR DGPS…………?? 14- Cost -effective & Reliable.14- Cost -effective & Reliable.


POTENTIAL & POTENTIAL & IMPROVEMENTSIMPROVEMENTS

1-The combination of 1-The combination of information sources (internal information sources (internal system, geometry and GPS) system, geometry and GPS) increases RELIABILITY & increases RELIABILITY & ACCURACY of the whole system.ACCURACY of the whole system.

2- Improve yield sensor by 2- Improve yield sensor by different methods.different methods.


ContinueContinue…….. 3- More research on grain dynamics 3- More research on grain dynamics

throughout the different models of throughout the different models of combines.combines.

4- Consideration of effects of some 4- Consideration of effects of some parameters on grain flow include;parameters on grain flow include;

a- Thickness of the crop.a- Thickness of the crop. b- Entering and leaving the crop.b- Entering and leaving the crop. c- Combine operation settings.c- Combine operation settings. d- Combine grained speed.d- Combine grained speed. e- Combine component wear.e- Combine component wear.


ContinueContinue……..

5- Further research for the higher precise 5- Further research for the higher precise matching the yield with position.matching the yield with position.

6- Eliminating the problems of low readings 6- Eliminating the problems of low readings of grain moisture content on moving when of grain moisture content on moving when the sensor fin was not covered by grain.the sensor fin was not covered by grain.

7- Eliminating possible errors in time delay 7- Eliminating possible errors in time delay determination.determination.

8-Measuring grain density as changing crop 8-Measuring grain density as changing crop properties.properties.


THE ULTIMATE RESULTSTHE ULTIMATE RESULTS;; - Changing the conventional farming - Changing the conventional farming

treatment techniques towards;treatment techniques towards; 1- Controlling the environmental 1- Controlling the environmental

pollution.pollution.

2- The best agricultural profitable 2- The best agricultural profitable economic returns.economic returns.


Continue..& Final Continue..& Final DecisionDecision??

- Changing the conventional farming - Changing the conventional farming treatment techniques to wards;treatment techniques to wards;

1- Controlling the environmental 1- Controlling the environmental

pollution.pollution.

2- The best agricultural profitable 2- The best agricultural profitable economic returnseconomic returns..

- And finally a green decision?...- And finally a green decision?...

““FARMING THE SOIL:NOT THE FIELDFARMING THE SOIL:NOT THE FIELD””

Education

Yield mapping Combinable Crops, Potential & Problems, An initial Phd Seminar Seminar