Abstract
This contribution introduces an instrument for decision-making in agricultural processes based on the measurements and mapping of soil resistance to root penetration. Its development was based on a new and advanced instrumentation tool, enabling in almost real-time to acquire the necessary information for spatial variability analysis of plant root penetration resistance in soils, due to natural or artificial soil compaction processes, i.e., not only for an area of soil but also for a soil profile. The system allows soil resistance assays for both laboratory and agricultural fields. Moreover, the development focused on an intelligent instrumentation concept, as well as a microprobe (30º for the spire angle, 1,6 mm for the base diameter, and 30 mm of total length), with a strain-gage transducer sensor. Results have shown that measurements of soil resistance to plant root penetration can be performed up to the limit of (483.47 ± 0.69) N, with a resolution of 15.4 N. Additionally, the versatility of the system is verified for soil resistance data collection and its interpretation to root plant penetration, since they can be presented in table formats, one-dimensional graphs, two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps. Therefore, this system enables users to obtain a quick interpretation of the soil aggregation state in agricultural areas.
Highlights
The intensive use of soils, in large scale agricultural production, has generated a series of problems including the efficiency of the production capacity (Lins e Silva, 1999)
In this study the evaluation of soil resistance to root penetration is given as a function of the agricultural field coordinates
Data interpretation is supplied to the user in the form of a report, consisting of tables and graphs of the measures in near real time, allowing the interpretation of the data through charts in bi and tri-dimensional format, which allows the interpretation of spatial and temporal variability of soil resistance to penetration of roots
Summary
The intensive use of soils, in large scale agricultural production, has generated a series of problems including the efficiency of the production capacity (Lins e Silva, 1999). The developed system comprises a mechanical module and an automatic microcontrolled module, responsible for the microprobe positioning control for the measurement of soil resistance to root penetration, as well as a central computer responsible for the general management and interface with the user (Figure 1).
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