Crop ProductionPrecision Ag Technologies

John NowatzkiExtension Ag Machine Systems Specialist

Precision Ag for Crop Production

• GPS and Guidance and Computers

• Section Control – Planters and Sprayers

• Variable Rate Technology• How to Make Field Management Zones• In-field Sensing

GPS Guidance

• GPS-assisted• Auto-steer• GPS Correction Options:

• Free GPS Corrections• Commercial Options• Continuously Operating Reference

Station (CORS) – Internet-based • RTK

Section and Row Control• Planters• Air Seeders

PneumaticElectric

Planter RowON

Waterway

Precision Spraying Technology

• Boom Height Control• Section and Nozzle Control• Nozzle Flow Control• Droplet Size Control• As-Applied Maps

Variable Rate Fertilization

• Fertilizer, Seed, Variety

Equipment Technology

Layers to Delineate Management Zones

Variable Rate Fertilization

• Equipment and Technology• Zone Maps• Equipment Capable of Changing Rates• In-cab Computer Controller• GPS

• Farmer Equipment Options: • Fertilizer Applicator• Air Seeder – Planter

• Commercial Options• Consultant Services for Maps• Fertilizer Companies

NH3 Variable Rate Options• Anhydrous Applicator – Fall, Pre-plant, In-season• Strip Till Machine• One-pass when Planting• Separate Seeder or Planter Operation

Anhydrous Ammonia

NH3 Cold-flow Unit

MaintainsLiquid Form

Anhydrous Ammonia

Change NH3 Gas to Liquid

Measure Flow RateVary Flow Rate

NH3 Equipment Costs - Modifications

• Heat Exchanger • Flow Control Meter• Flow Control Valve• Wiring • Speed Measurement

Anhydrous Ammonia

Flow Meter - $400

Control Valves - $400

Heat Exchanger - $1,500

Granular Variable Rate Options• Air/Boom Applicator, Floater/Spreader, Spreader Cart• Fall, Pre-plant, In-season

• Air Seeder without Seed

• One-pass Air Seeder

Granular Fertilizer

Granular Equipment and Costs

Spreader CartVariable Rate Hydraulic Motor - $1,500-2,500Control Valve – Encoder - $300Controller - $1,200

Granular Fertilizer

Equipment Suppliers

Dickey JohnHinikerRavenRawsonMicro-TrakTeejet

Suppliers for Dealers

Variable Rate FertilizationDeveloping Management Zones• Grower Knowledge• Historical Yield Data• Remote Sensing• Elevation• In-field Sensors

Yield Monitoring and Data Management

• Yield Monitors with GPS• GIS Programs

Remote Sensing : Suitability and Accuracy

Google Earth NAIP – 1 meter

Satellite – 15-30 m Zone Maps

LiDAR Technology

• Light Detection And Ranging• Optical Remote Sensing using Lasers• Measuring Distance to Ground from Airplane

measures the time delay between transmission of a pulse and detection of the reflected signal

3D View in Fugro Viewer

1 meter Contours 7.84 meters25.7 feet

James River BasinLiDAR Data

• ND Water Commission

• http://lidar.swc.nd.gov

Red River Basin LiDAR Data

www.internationalwaterinstitute.org/lidar.htm

Crop Sensors

• In-season Fertilization

• Yield Estimate

• Management Zones

Crop SensorsFact Sheet

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery

How Crop Sensors Identify Crop Health

• Red Light Absorbed• NIR Reflected

Plants Absorb and Reflect Light

Red NIR

Sensor

Red Absorbed, NIR Reflected

Sensor Field Operation

• Rate Determination:• NDVI Value• Compare NDVI to

Optimum Area • Growing Degree

Days• Potential Yield

• Activate Rate Controller

GreenSeeker – Trimble

• $10,000 - $17,000• Processor• 4 sensors • Cables

• Uses N-Rich Strip

OptRx – Ag Leader

• $17,000• 3 Sensors• Integra Display• Direct Command kit

• Uses Virtual Reference Strip

CropSpec – Topcon

• $18,000• Uses N-Rich Strip

Crop Circle – Holland Scientific

• $17,500• 3 sensor system with Integra display and

Direct Command kit • Uses Virtual Reference Strip

GreenSeeker Handheld

• $500• Uses N-Rich Strip

Handheld Crop Sensor

Holland Scientific

C

B

D

A

Crop Table

Holland Scientific

Crop %N lbs/Bu

Maximum yield (bu/ac)

15 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275

Spring Wheat 2.45 60 66.8 134 200 167 334 401 468

Winter Wheat 2.30 60 3.76 62.7 125 188 251 314 376 439

Dryland corn 1.35 56 99.3 132 165 199 232 265 298 331

Irrigated Corn 1.25 56 127 159 191 223 255 286 318 350

Barley 1.70 48 22.3 31.7 74.2 111 148 185 223 260

Triticale 2.10 54 30.9 51.5 103 155 206 258 309 361

Sorghum 1.34 56 102 136 172 205 239 273 307

canola 3.10 50 42.3 70.5 141 211 282

0.30 x 165 = 49.5 lbs. N

1

2

3

4

$100

$50

iPad – iPhone app Android coming soon!

Click Tap Read, Repeat

FieldScout App Readout:

In-season Variable Rate

• Mount Sensors on side-dress applicator• N-rich strip in each field• Applicator will sense the N-rich strip• Compare each readings with N-rich strip • Use the difference to determine N to

apply

Implications of Crop Sensors

• Real-time Plant Nitrogen Requirements• Maximize Yield• Reduce Total N Application• Save Second Application in Droughts

• Early Yield Prediction• Precision Desiccant Application

Why Precision Agriculture?• Maximize Profits

• Less Overlap• Reduce Inputs• Increase Yields

• Reduce Stress• Protect Environment• Feed 7 Billion People

Current World Population:

7,105,012,760

1804 1 billion

1850 1.2 billion

1900 1.6 billion

1927 2 billion

1950 2.55 billion

1955 2.8 billion

1960 3 billion

1965 3.3 billion

1970 3.7 billion

1975 4 billion

1980 4.5 billion

1985 4.85 billion

1987 5 billion

1990 5.3 billion

1995 5.7 billion

1999 6 billion

2000 6.1 billion

2005 6.45 billion

2010 6.8 billion

2011 7 billion

Questions - Comments

Office 701-231-8213 Cell 701-261-9842

John.Nowatzki@ndsu.edu

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agmachinery