| |
• Development and validation of experimental protocols for spectral
reflectance component of Precision Farming under small farm condition in
tropics.
Based on the principles of quantum mechanics, and from published work
following experimental protocols were developed in a manner that the Precision
Farming practiced in developed countries (situated at high latitudes) are
translated into small farm situations in tropics with the following specific
measures:
- Spectral reflectance of spectroradiometer falls in 350-2500 nm range
- Four Clusters falling in three Agro-Ecological Sub-Regions (AESR) of
Punjab were identified with geo-referred sites
- Each clusters consists of four sites
- Each sites composed of 5 plots of one acre (0.4 ha) with minimum
variability within sites, and maximum variability between sites.
- Satellite-visits of the sites during the time of ground observations
of soil and plan parameters are confirmed.
- Soils are sampled from points on pentagonal equidistance grid, and
from 0-1 cm and 0-15 cm depth.
- Field site selection was on the basis of
land properties such as land forms and relief, and soil parameters such as
texture, colour, and contents of calcium carbonate and organic carbon (reaction
with hydrogen peroxide).
- Sampling strategy was validated in the field, and
Spectral Reflectance data obtained in the laboratory confirmed rightness of the
approach. Maps were generated for all sites.
 |
|
A view of soil sampling in the field |
•
Development of Batch Type Yield Monitoring System for Combine Harvester.
- Mainly combine harvesters are used for the harvesting of wheat and rice in
the Northern part of India
- Use of Combine Harvesters on Custom hiring basis are also spreading
gradually in other parts of the country.
- In Punjab, the total area under combine harvesting for rice and wheat
is 91 % and 82 % respectively.
- Assessing yield variability is a logical first step to begin
practicing field-specific crop management or ‘precision agriculture’.
- In developing countries like India where the size of the farms are not
as big as in developed countries, a low cost batch type yield monitors will be
useful to measure the field yield.
- A yield monitor records crop yield information during harvest and give
farmer an accurate assessment of yield variation within a field.
- Monitor data is used to create a yield map for every location in the
field. This map can then be used, along with other data, to make crop input and
other decisions as a part of a Precision Farming System.
- Scientists and researcher can also use the yield monitor to measure
the accurate yield of their experimental plots instead of rough yield calculated
from the yield of randomly selected plots harvested manually.
- Combine operators operating the combine on custom hiring basis can
also use the yield monitor for fixing the charges on actual basis i.e. weight
basis rather than area basis used nowadays to collect the charges from the
farmers.
- The yield monitoring combine is expected to play an important role in
establishing field specific crop management related technologies to farmers.
 |
 |
| A view of display unit attached on the combine |
A view of clean grain auger and tank fitted in combine |
•
Features of Multi-Utility Vehicle:
- High ground clearance
- Less weight per wheel
- Four wheel drive and steering for better
traction and manuverability
- Vibration and dust protected mounting system
for cameras
- Provision for mounting of various sensors
- Capability for use in High crop condition
- Less weight per wheel to avoid soil
compaction
- Approx. 2 m turning radius (in normal mode),
hence increased maneuverability in small fields
- Capability of skid steering and zero turning
radius
- Vehicle will be able to supply AC power
required for spectrographic camera and various sensors and data acquisition
system
- Continuously variable speed from creep to
normal (0.5 Kmph to 30 Kmph) to support VRT technology
- Continuously variable speed ratio achieved
by CVT
- Availability of High torque at low speed due
to electric drive
 |
| First Prototype of Vehicle |
• Grain Weight Measuring Instrument:
Batch Type (Independent/Single Unit)
- Low Cost
- Can be used for any crop or any combine
- Direct display of the yield
- Useful for custom hiring operators of
combines
- Suitable for the small land holdings
- Can be used by putting in trailer
• Trailer mounted type yield monitor
Continuous Type(Mass/Impact Type)
- Gives continuous display of the yield for
each plot
- Can be used for the sub meter yield
determination
 |
| A view of trailer mounted yield
monitor in the field. |
• Correlation between organic carbon and derivative soil reflectance at different wavelength in soils of Ludhiana
The statistical correlation between soil reflectance and organic carbon content were studied with limited data. Prior to statistical analysis, the raw spectral reflectance data were resampled at every tenth-nanometer value from 350-2500 nm using integration technique. This was done to reduce the volume of data for analysis and to match it more closely to the spectral resolution of the instrument (3 to 10 nm). The reflectance values were then transformed with first derivative processing. Derivative transformation is known to minimize variation among samples caused in grinding and optical set-up. Wavebands in regions of low signal to noise ratio or displaying noise because of splicing between the individual spectrometers (Analytical Spectral Devices Inc.) were omitted leaving 198 wavebands for analysis. The omitted bands were 350 through 380 nm, 970 through 1010 nm and 2460 through 2500 nm.
 |
| Correlation between organic carbon and 1st derivative soil reflectance at different wavelength in soils |
• Sensor Fusion:
Considering precision agriculture practice, it is essential to acquire multi-source information. The use of number of sensing techniques working in combination could provide a better characterization of the soil and crop canopy. A method of multi-sensor data fusion for high quality data analysis and processing in measurement and instrumentation has great potential for real time determination of soil and plant properties
 |
| A field view of real time soil sensor. |
|
