Crop input application systems, methods, and apparatuses
A crop input applicator is provided. The crop input applicator monitors the presence of applied liquid crop in a seed trench and/or the relative placement of liquid crop and seed in a seed trench. In another aspect, the crop input applicator minimizes an offset between the liquid crop and seed placement.
1. A method of controlling a crop input applicator, the crop input applicator having a monitoring system comprising a controller, a seed sensor configured to determine the placement of a seed in a seed trench, and an applied-liquid sensor configured to determine the placement of applied liquid in the seed trench, the method utilizing the monitoring system to:
determine an in-trench seed placement comprising an individual seed placement or a plurality of in-trench seed placements;
determine an in-trench liquid placement;
determine a liquid-seed offset; and
adjust a system criterion, comprising a seed meter operational criterion, based on a liquid-seed offset in order to minimize the liquid-seed offset.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said in-trench seed placement comprises the individual seed placement.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the seed sensor comprises an optical sensor.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the crop input applicator further comprises a valve used to control application of the liquid.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the applied-liquid sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said system criterion further comprises a liquid application valve operating criterion.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said in-trench seed placement comprises the plurality of in-trench seed placements.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the seed sensor comprises an optical sensor.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the crop input applicator further comprises a valve used to control application of the liquid.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applied-liquid sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said system criterion further comprises a liquid application valve operating criterion.
12. The method of claim 1 , comprising said in-trench seed placement being directly measured by the seed sensor in a final position of the seed in the seed trench.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the seed sensor comprises an optical sensor.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the crop input applicator further comprises a valve used to control application of the liquid.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the applied-liquid sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor.
16. The method of claim 1 , comprising the seed sensor detecting the seed prior to the final position of the seed in the seed trench.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the applied-liquid sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor.
18. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing the monitoring system to: determine a georeferenced location, utilizing a global positioning system, of the in-trench seed placement, and to determine a second georeferenced location, utilizing the global positioning system, of the in-trench liquid placement.
19. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating and displaying a map or other visual representation of the in-trench seed placement and the in-trench liquid placement.
20. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating and displaying a statistical representation of a successful placement of the in-trench liquid placement relative to the in-trench seed placement.
21. The method of claim 1 further comprising the seed sensor being located on a seed firmer.
22. The method of claim 1 further comprising the applied-liquid sensor being located on a seed firmer.
23. The method of claim 1 further comprising the seed sensor, the applied-liquid sensor, or another sensor identifying the presence of the seed in the seed trench and determining whether the seed is dry or wet.
24. The method of claim 1 wherein the seed sensor is configured to determine a theoretical in-trench seed placement and the applied-liquid sensor is configured to determine a theoretical in-trench liquid placement.
25. The method of claim 1 wherein the seed sensor is configured to determine an actual in-trench seed placement and the applied-liquid sensor is configured to determine an actual in-trench liquid placement.
26. The method of claim 1 wherein the seed sensor is configured to determine a theoretical in-trench seed placement and the applied-liquid sensor is configured to determine an actual in-trench liquid placement.
27. The method of claim 1 wherein the seed sensor is configured to determine an actual in-trench seed placement and the applied-liquid sensor is configured to determine a theoretical in-trench liquid placement.
28. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid-seed offset comprises a time offset.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid-seed offset comprises a distance offset.
30. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid-seed offset comprises an average offset.
31. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid-seed offset comprises a median offset.
32. The method of claim 1 wherein the system criterion further comprises a valve open time.
33. The method of claim 1 wherein the system criterion comprises a seed disc RPM.
34. The method of claim 1 wherein the seed sensor and the applied-liquid sensor comprise two separate, distinct sensors.