Crop monitoring system and method
A crop monitoring system includes one or more sensors adapted to sense a stalk of a growing crop and generate a detection signal that is representative of the diameter of the stalk. A processor is configured to generate a nutrient status indicator from the detection signal. The nutrient status indicator may also depend partially on VOCs (volatile organic carbon compounds) released by the growing crop. A user interface device is configured to display the nutrient status indicator for use in a crop management system. Related methods are also disclosed, and may be used earlier than conventional nutrient inspection methods, for example, after maize plants have at least six leaves.
1 . A crop monitoring system comprising:
a first sensor configured to sense a stalk of a growing crop and generate a detection signal representative of a diameter of the stalk;
a second sensor configured to detect VOCs emitted by the growing crop and generate a VOC detection signature;
a processor in communication with the first and second sensors, wherein the processor is configured to receive a geolocation of each sensor, generate a map representative of the crop field, and generate a nutrient status indicator from the detection signal and the VOC detection signature, the nutrient status indicator indicating whether the growing crop corresponding to the geolocation is stressed due to nutrient deficiency; and
a user interface device in communication with the processor and configured to display the map comprising the nutrient status indicator corresponding to the first and second sensors.
2 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises an optical sensor.
3 . The crop monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the first sensor comprises a camera.
4 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises a vehicle-mounted sensor configured to sense stalks of the growing crop as a vehicle carrying the first sensor is driven over a field containing the growing crop.
5 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises at least one autonomous crop-scouting machine, wherein each crop-scouting machine comprises a sensor in wireless communication with the processor and adapted to sense stalks of the growing crop.
6 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises a transmitter configured to send a signal to the processor.
7 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises a communicatively connected mesh of sensors distributed across the crop field.
8 . The crop monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a crop application recommendation that is dependent upon the nutrient status indicator, wherein the user interface device is configured to display the crop application recommendation.
9 . The crop monitoring system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to receive a crop growth stage indicator, and wherein the crop application recommendation is generated based upon the crop growth stage indicator.
10 . The crop monitoring system of claim 8 , wherein the crop application recommendation comprises a nitrogen application recommendation.
11 . A method of monitoring a growing crop, the method comprising:
detecting a plurality of stalks of a growing crop and generating a plurality of signals representative of diameters of the stalks;
detecting at least one VOC emitted by the growing crop and generating a VOC detection signature; and
generating a plurality of nutrient status indicators based at least in part on the signals and the VOC detection signature, the nutrient status indicators arranged as a map representative of a field in which the growing crop is located, the nutrient status indicator indicating whether the growing crop corresponding to a field location is stressed due to nutrient deficiency.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting a plurality of stalks of a growing crop comprises generating a plurality of images representing the stalks.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting a plurality of stalks of a growing crop comprises directing a laser beam toward the stalks.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein generating a plurality of nutrient status indicators comprises generating a plurality of nutrient status indicators of maize plants having fewer than 12 leaves.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating and displaying a crop application recommendation that is dependent upon the nutrient status indicators.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the crop application recommendation comprises a nitrogen application recommendation.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving a crop growth stage indicator, and wherein the crop application recommendation is generated based upon the crop growth stage indicator.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting a plurality of stalks of a growing crop comprises navigating at least one autonomous crop-scouting machine through the field, wherein each crop-scouting machine comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect stalks of the growing crop.