This project
is taking spatial data that farmers have taken during
yield monitoring and other machinery activitues and
mining the data for potential productivity improvements
during machinery operations. The first approach was
to use the geo-referenced data and time sequenced informarion
to determine actual field efficiency of a combine and
planter. Turn time, unload and other service related
frequencies and timing was studied and field efficiency
maps were developed for different fields. The contoured
traffic pattern fields took more time and were less
efficient than the same machinery operating flat-straight
rows fields. (See Applied
Engineering in Ag Paper)
The second
project is using steering rate data to review the difference
of traffic patterns in the contoured and straight-traffic
patterns. The goal would be to predict the field efficiency
differences of fields with different traffic patterns
and thereby give a economic value for traffic patterns
experienced. (See ASAE
Paper |
Gear-Up
and Throttle-Down Practices |
GUTD has been
a proven pratice to save fuel from tractors that are
at partial power during field operations. The Nebraska
Tractor Test data has a wealth of data for such analysis
and is a great database for individual tractor and engine
configurations. This project is reviewing the relationships
of fuel usage and engine speed reductions to establish
predictive relationships for using the GUTD practices.
(See ASAE Paper) |
Using
Electrical Conductivity to Establish Management Zone in Coastal
Piedmont Soils. |
Electrical conductivity
has been showed to be correlated to soil texture, organic
matter and salinity issues. The project goal is to use a Veris
cart, which measures EC, and with other data such as aerial
photo's and soils maps to establish management zones from
geo-referenced data. From these management zones and EC reading
adjust the yield potential and the other agronomic inputs
to maximize the economic return for each management zone. |
Using
the Electrical Conductivity Cart as a Draft Predictor. |
The Veris cart
is equipped with 6 smooth coulters used to measure EC.
The draft from this cart has shown promise as reference
implement to predict tillage draft of other tillage
devices. Since the EC is correlated to soil texture,
there is potential to also gather tillage draft data
on a geo-referenced basis. This could be used to assess
the potential tillage energy differences and could be
additional information for profitability mapping on
a site-specific basis. (See
ASAE Paper) |
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