Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing
Optimum nitrogen (N) application is essential to the economic and environmental sustainability of cotton production. Variable-rate N fertigation could potentially help farmers optimize N applications, but current overhead irrigation systems normally lack automated site-specific variable-rate fertiga...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | AgriEngineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/1/22 |
| _version_ | 1797473393024434176 |
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| author | Stewart Bell A. Bulent Koc Joe Mari Maja Jose Payero Ahmad Khalilian Michael Marshall |
| author_facet | Stewart Bell A. Bulent Koc Joe Mari Maja Jose Payero Ahmad Khalilian Michael Marshall |
| author_sort | Stewart Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Optimum nitrogen (N) application is essential to the economic and environmental sustainability of cotton production. Variable-rate N fertigation could potentially help farmers optimize N applications, but current overhead irrigation systems normally lack automated site-specific variable-rate fertigation capabilities. The objective of this study was to develop an automated variable-rate N fertigation based on real-time Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements from crop sensors integrated with a lateral move irrigation system. For this purpose, NDVI crop sensors and a flow meter integrated with Arduino microcontrollers were constructed on a linear move fertigation system at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, South Carolina. A computer program was developed to automatically apply site-specific variable N rates based on real-time NDVI sensor data. The system’s ability to use the NDVI data to prescribe N rates, the flow meter to monitor the flow of N, and a rotary encoder to establish the lateral’s position were evaluated. Results from this study showed that the system could accurately use NDVI data to calculate N rates when compared to hand calculated N rates using a two-sample <i>t</i>-test (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed a strong relationship between flow rates measured using the flow meter and hand calculations (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.95), as well as the measured distance travelled using the encoder and the actual distance travelled (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99). This study concludes that N management decisions can be automated using NDVI data from on-the-go handheld GreenSeeker crop sensors. The developed system can provide an alternative N application solution for farmers and researchers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:13:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b29d5f646ca6446787f41566ef4bb133 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-7402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:13:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AgriEngineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-b29d5f646ca6446787f41566ef4bb1332023-11-24T00:06:39ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022022-03-014132033410.3390/agriengineering4010022Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote SensingStewart Bell0A. Bulent Koc1Joe Mari Maja2Jose Payero3Ahmad Khalilian4Michael Marshall5Department of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USAEdisto Research and Education Center, Clemson University, Blackville, SC 29217, USAOptimum nitrogen (N) application is essential to the economic and environmental sustainability of cotton production. Variable-rate N fertigation could potentially help farmers optimize N applications, but current overhead irrigation systems normally lack automated site-specific variable-rate fertigation capabilities. The objective of this study was to develop an automated variable-rate N fertigation based on real-time Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements from crop sensors integrated with a lateral move irrigation system. For this purpose, NDVI crop sensors and a flow meter integrated with Arduino microcontrollers were constructed on a linear move fertigation system at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, South Carolina. A computer program was developed to automatically apply site-specific variable N rates based on real-time NDVI sensor data. The system’s ability to use the NDVI data to prescribe N rates, the flow meter to monitor the flow of N, and a rotary encoder to establish the lateral’s position were evaluated. Results from this study showed that the system could accurately use NDVI data to calculate N rates when compared to hand calculated N rates using a two-sample <i>t</i>-test (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed a strong relationship between flow rates measured using the flow meter and hand calculations (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.95), as well as the measured distance travelled using the encoder and the actual distance travelled (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.99). This study concludes that N management decisions can be automated using NDVI data from on-the-go handheld GreenSeeker crop sensors. The developed system can provide an alternative N application solution for farmers and researchers.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/1/22cottonfertigationautomationremote sensingirrigationArduino |
| spellingShingle | Stewart Bell A. Bulent Koc Joe Mari Maja Jose Payero Ahmad Khalilian Michael Marshall Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing AgriEngineering cotton fertigation automation remote sensing irrigation Arduino |
| title | Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing |
| title_full | Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing |
| title_fullStr | Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing |
| title_short | Development of an Automated Linear Move Fertigation System for Cotton Using Active Remote Sensing |
| title_sort | development of an automated linear move fertigation system for cotton using active remote sensing |
| topic | cotton fertigation automation remote sensing irrigation Arduino |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/1/22 |
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