Soil sensing systems and implements for sensing different soil parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021190754-A1
Application number	US-201816756434-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2018
Priority date	Oct 17, 2017
Publication date	Jun 24, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and implements for sensing, analyzing, and displaying different soil parameters. A soil sensing system includes a mechanical component of an agricultural implement and at least one sensor disposed on the mechanical component. The sensor generates an electromagnetic field through a region of soil as the agricultural implement traverses a field. The sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver and the sensor measures different soil parameters including a soil dielectric constant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A soil sensing system comprising:
an agricultural implement; and at least one sensor disposed on the agricultural implement, the sensor generating an electromagnetic field through a region of soil of interest as the agricultural implement traverses a field, wherein the sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver or a transceiver and the sensor measures a soil dielectric constant of the region of soil of interest.

2 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a monitor in communication with the sensor and adapted to generate a numeric display or a spatial mapping of the soil dielectric constant for a region of a field based on the generated electromagnetic field through the region of interest.

3 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the implement comprises a planter.

4 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the implement comprises one of a tractor, a planter, a seeder, a tillage tool, a combine, a sprayer, and an agricultural toolbar.

5 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor to measure or calculate at least one of the presence of one or more soil densities existing between 0 and 30 inches of soil depth, a magnitude of the density layer differences or a magnitude of the soil densities, a rate of change of the soil density layer changes, and a soil depth at which each density layer starts or transitions to a different density layer.

6 . The soil sensing system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor to measure or calculate a soil density change at a certain depth and a sensed moisture level at this depth or combined with soil type or texture to process raw data to generate processed data.

7 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor to measure or calculate at least one of soil density variability, soil surface roughness that is measured as Coefficient of Variation, and a residual material thickness.

8 . The soil sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor generates the electromagnetic field having a frequency range of 10 MHz to 2.6 GHz.

9 . An implement comprising:
a first radar transceiver or a combination of a first radar transmitter and first radar receiver for sensing soil properties at a first depth of soil; and a second radar transceiver or a combination of a second radar transmitter and second radar receiver for sensing soil properties at a second depth of soil.

10 . The implement of claim 9 , wherein the implement comprises one of a tractor, a planter, a seeder, a tillage tool, a combine, a sprayer, and an agricultural toolbar.

11 . The implement of claim 9 , wherein the implement comprises a planter.

12 . The implement of claim 9 further comprising:
a monitor in communication with the first radar transceiver or a combination of the first radar transmitter and first radar receiver and the second radar transceiver or a combination of the second radar transmitter and second radar receiver and adapted to generate a numeric display or a spatial mapping of the soil at the first depth and the second depth.

13 . The implement of claim 9 , further comprising:
an electrical conductivity sensor to sense electrical conductivity of soil with the electrical conductivity corresponding to a soil dielectric constant.

14 . A soil sensing system for sensing soil properties comprising:
an implement; a radar transceiver or a combination of radar transmitter and a radar receiver disposed on the implement for sensing soil properties at a depth of soil; and at least one optical sensor to sense at least one of soil organic matter, soil moisture, soil texture, and soil cation-exchange capacity (CEC).

15 . The soil sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the implement is one of a tractor, a planter, a seeder, a tillage tool, a combine, a sprayer, and an agricultural toolbar.

16 . The soil sensing system of claim 14 , wherein the implement is a planter.

17 . The soil sensing system of claim 14 further comprising:
a monitor in communication with the radar transceiver or a combination of the radar transmitter and the radar receiver and the optical sensor and adapted to generate a numeric display or a spatial mapping of the soil.

18 . A soil sensing system comprising:
an agricultural implement; and at least one sensor disposed on the agricultural implement and directed to soil to measure at least one of: a plurality of soil layers differing by density; a depth of a transition from a first soil layer to a second soil layer based on density of each layer; a magnitude of a density layer difference between soil layers; a rate of change of soil density across a depth of soil; soil density variability; soil surface roughness; residue mat thickness; and a density at a soil layer.

19 . The soil sensing system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor is one of radar, electroconductivity, electromagnetic, and a force probe.

20 . The soil sensing system of claim 18 , wherein the agricultural implement is one of a tractor, a planter, a seeder, a tillage tool, a combine, a sprayer, and an agricultural toolbar.

21 . The soil sensing system of claim 18 further comprising:
a monitor in communication with the sensor and adapted to generate a numeric display or a spatial mapping of the soil.

22 . The soil sensing system of claim 18 further comprising:
a common midpoint (CMP) antenna array is utilized by positioning a target at a known depth, transmitting electromagnetic pulses into soil, receiving electromagnetic pulses, and then calculating for that depth.

23 . A method of measuring residue mat thickness of residue in a field comprising:
traversing an implement across a field, wherein a radar transceiver or a combination of radar transmitter and a radar receiver is disposed on the implement for sensing residue on the field; measuring an amount of residue thickness at geo-referenced locations in the field; and storing the amount of residue thickness at each geo-referenced location in memory.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
displaying on a display residue thickness at each geo-referenced location.

25 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
displaying on the display the residue thickness for an individual row as the implement is moved across the field.

26 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
spatially displaying with a map on the display residue thickness ranges for multiple rows across the field.

27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the implement is one of a tractor, a planter, a seeder, a tillage tool, a combine, a sprayer, and an agricultural toolbar.

28 . A method to generate processed soil data comprising:
traversing an implement across a field, wherein a radar transceiver or a combination of radar transmitter and a radar receiver is disposed on the implement for sensing soil characteristics of the field; measuring, with the implement, a soil density change at a first depth; measuring, with the implement, a sensed moisture level at the first depth; and combining the soil density change with the sensed moisture level at the first depth to generate a first processed soil data.

29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
measuring, with the implement, a soil density change at a second depth; measuring, with the i

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Stoller Jason
• Schlipf Ben L

Classifications

• A01C21/007

  Determining fertilization requirements · CPC title

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/006

  Minimum till seeding · CPC title

• A01C7/08

  Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows · CPC title

• A01B47/00 Primary

  Soil-working with electric potential applied between tools and soil · CPC title