Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.21
Capacitance sensing in the tip of a cultivator-tine. The
insert
-
top left
- is a vertical
cross-section of the sensor. The electrical frequency is 100 GHz (From Drücker et al.
2009
and Sun
et al.
2004
, altered)
desired output criterions. An interesting alternative to this solution would be sensing
of capacitance in real-time on-the-go and converting previously made maps of the
mean conductivity by the results. Not only sensing for the respective water situa-
tion, but also the generating of “yield-predicting-maps” might benefit from such
procedures to enhance the precision.
However, the temporal implications of the respective sensing objectives should
be considered. Sensing for water always is a
short-term matter
because of the
influence of the weather. In contrast to this, sensing for soil properties mainly aims
at yield indicating maps and these - if created properly - can be used for decades.
This fundamental temporal difference will have consequences for the practical
management.
5.3
Sensing of Soil Properties on a Surface Basis
by Reflectance
When soil sensing is done by reflected visible or infrared radiation, properties of the
soil's skin and not of a defined volume are indicated. The signals originate from a
surface that can be part of the
top-surface
of a field or of a surface within a
vertical
