Crop Scouting Research Articles

4WD mobile robot for autonomous steering using single camera based vision system

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate System-of-Systems (SoS) approach to design and development of unmanned robotic platform for greenhouse agricultural application. Design/methodology/approach – SoS design approach is important in developing engineering products. It was observed that while system integration considers designs in a multi-disciplinary level framework, SoS is viewed as a solution focussed approach. In this paper, the authors have demonstrated SoS approach to develop a mobile robot platform. The wheels of the platform are independently controlled by using brushless DC and stepper motors based on fieldbus type Distributed Control System scheme. Findings – The constraints for autonomous traveling were identified during the first phase followed by development of 12 distinct sub-routines during second phase of training. Optimal camera installation angle, driving speeds, steering angle per pixel were found to be valuable constraints for feed-forward parameters for real-time driving. The platform was field tested in a tomato planted greenhouse for yield and weed mapping. Research limitations/implications – The paper focusses on studying vision-based autonomous four-wheel-drive (4WD) constraints and their implementation limitations. Practical implications – The platform was field tested in a tomato planted greenhouse for yield and weed mapping. Social implications – The platform can be used for agricultural operations such as crop scouting, monitoring, spraying, and mapping in a medium to large-scale greenhouse setting. Originality/value – The research and presentation is original. Starting from its mechanical specification to wheel performance study, development of path patterns for training and global navigation algorithm for testing and validation were achieved. The platform can autonomously be driven without any manual intervention.

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Field Scouting and Spraying

Unmanned Aerial Systems for Field Scouting and Spraying

A model for long-distance dispersal of boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis (Boheman), has been a major insect pest of cotton production in the US, accounting for yield losses and control costs on the order of several billion US dollars since the introduction of the pest in 1892. Boll weevil eradication programs have eliminated reproducing populations in nearly 94%, and progressed toward eradication within the remaining 6%, of cotton production areas. However, the ability of weevils to disperse and reinfest eradicated zones threatens to undermine the previous investment toward eradication of this pest. In this study, the HYSPLIT atmospheric dispersion model was used to simulate daily wind-aided dispersal of weevils from the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Simulated weevil dispersal was compared with weekly capture of weevils in pheromone traps along highway trap lines between the LRGV and the South Texas/Winter Garden zone of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. A logistic regression model was fit to the probability of capturing at least one weevil in individual pheromone traps relative to specific values of simulated weevil dispersal, which resulted in 60.4% concordance, 21.3% discordance, and 18.3% ties in estimating captures and non-captures. During the first full year of active eradication with widespread insecticide applications in 2006, the dispersal model accurately estimated 71.8%, erroneously estimated 12.5%, and tied 15.7% of capture and non-capture events. Model simulations provide a temporal risk assessment over large areas of weevil reinfestation resulting from dispersal by prevailing winds. Eradication program managers can use the model risk assessment information to effectively schedule and target enhanced trapping, crop scouting, and insecticide applications.

Vegetable Insect Identification and Management - Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

Revised! HS798, a 24-page guide by S. E. Webb and R. C. Hochmuth, provides instruction in management and control of insects and mites in greenhouse vegetable production — crop scouting and monitoring, identification of insects and mites, record keeping, management strategies and tactics, banker plant system, insecticides and miticides, storage of pesticides, safety, and control of specific greenhouse pests. Includes related literature. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, June 2010. HS798/CV274: Vegetable Insect Identification and Management—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3 (ufl.edu)

Building Roads and Bridges for Integrated Pest Management in Florida: A Tribute to Madeline and Charles Mellinger of Glades Crop Care

linger in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments in pioneering integrated pest management (IPM) in Florida agriculture. The Mellingers are owners of Glades Crop Care, so named because of its proximity to the Everglades. Established in 1972 and headquartered in Jupiter, Glades Crop Care was the first privately owned crop scouting and consulting firm in Florida. Due to the Mellingers' expertise and determination, Glades Crop Care has become the largest independent crop consulting firm in the southeastern United States, overseeing more than 60,000 acres of high value specialty crops. Glades Crop Care promotes IPM and sustainable agriculture to help Florida growers produce crops profitably with minimal risk to human health and the environment. In recognition of their pioneering pest management programs, the Mellingers have received several prestigious awards, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USD A) Award of Merit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Champ Award, Florida State Horticultural Society President's Award for Industry, and most recently the First IPM Achievement Award from the National IPM Symposium. Madeline Mellinger grew up in Blacksburg, Virginia, where her father was a professor of chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech). Her entomology experience began when she worked with Dr. Mary Ross at Virginia Tech dissecting cockroaches and staining microscope slides for genetic research. Her promise was evident early, as she won the Junior Science Award at Virginia Tech the same year that her father coincidentally received the Senior Science Award at the Virginia Academy of Sciences. Most of her college coursework was at Virginia Tech in biology, and she also spent a summer at the University of Virginia's Mountain Lake Biology Station. She described the place as Spartan, requiring a television to be brought in to watch the moon landing. Madeline studied entomology at the University of Georgia and subsequently graduated summa cum laude from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. After graduating, she worked as a junior entomologist at an analytical pre-harvest laboratory, J&W Agro-eco Labs. This company became bankrupt but fortunately Madeline was asked by 6 celery and sweet corn growers in Belle Glade to continue the service. She accepted their request and established Glades Corp Care. As Madeline's stature grew, she served as an advisor to the U.S. Congress, National Academy of Sciences, EPA, and Cooperative Extension Service at several universities. She has been appointed by 3 consecutive U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture to the National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Committee and was the chairman from 1995 to 1997. She also was

Agricultural robots—system analysis and economic feasibility

This paper focuses on the economic feasibility of applying autonomous robotic vehicles compared to conventional systems in three different applications: robotic weeding in high value crops (particularly sugar beet), crop scouting in cereals and grass cutting on golf courses. The comparison was based on a systems analysis and an individual economic feasibility study for each of the three applications. The results showed that in all three scenarios, the robotic applications are more economically feasible than the conventional systems. The high cost of real time kinematics Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) and the small capacity of the vehicles are the main parameters that increase the cost of the robotic systems.

A methodology to support the decision to invest in spatially variable nitrogen fertilisation

This paper reports a methodology to define and select basic activities for spatially variable N-management, referred to as management tracks. Their main purpose is to support decision making whether or not to apply variable nitrogen fertilisation. The methodology is based on biophysical simulation of crop growth and nitrogen leaching (WAVE) in combination with economic optimisation (linear programming) and enables a normative environmental-economic evaluation of site specific N-management to be made. The partial results of a case study with an input-intensive and an input-extensive crop (ware potato and winter wheat, respectively) showed that site specific nitrogen management led to positive returns over variable costs compared to uniform N-application, conditional on the validity of the WAVE model used in simulating yield effects. The investments that could be allowed for at maximum were 6,300 Dfl and 13,500 Dfl for winter wheat and ware potato, respectively, assuming application to an area of 100 ha. A pollution tax or a tax on nitrogen designed to internalise pollution costs in agricultural production raises these maximum amounts to 7,600 and 33,700 Dfl, respectively. Practical feasibility requires site-specific nitrogen management to be integrated with time specific management since optimal N-tracks were found to be highly weather dependent. Besides, spatially variable management cannot be achieved unless good farming practices (soil testing and crop scouting) are already in place.

Integrated Cropping Systems—A Multi-discipline Degree

Washington State Univ. Tri-Cities offers a new agricultural degree program titled Integrated Cropping Systems. It is intended to provide a basic education on the fundamentals of crop production and the environmental context in which crops are grown. Courses are offered at the upper division level to interface with the lower division courses offered at local community colleges. The curriculum is composed of courses in environmental science, ecology and conservation as well as crop growth and development, crop nutrition, plant pathology integrated pest management and others. Students need to meet the same requirements as those at other Washington State Univ. campuses in regards to the general education requirements. The purpose of the Integrated Cropping Systems program is to provide an educational opportunity for agricultural professionals and others in the region who are unable to commute or move to the main campus location. The curriculum provides the background needed for such occupations as grower/producer, crop scouting, sales representative and other entry level agricultural professions. It will supply credits toward certification through the American Registry of Certified Professional Agricultural Consultants (ARCPACS). Integrated Cropping Systems is a unique agricultural curriculum designed to help agriculturists integrate their production practices into the local ecosystem in a way that the environment does not incur damage. It emphasizes the use of environmentally conscience decisionmaking processes and sound resource ethics. The program will graduate individuals who have heightened awareness of the impact agricultural practices have on the ecosystem in which they are conducted.

Evaluation of a Binomial Model for Insecticide Application to Control Lepidopterous Pests in Cabbage

A binomial model for insecticide application was developed from counts of cabbage looper equivalents on cabbage grown on Prince Edward island, Canada, from 1988 to 1991. A threshold of 40% of plants infested with at least one larva of any of three species of Lepidoptera attacking the crop coincided 94.7% of the time with a threshold of 0.25 cabbage looper equivalents per plant that was used in insecticide efficacy trials. A field evaluation of plots managed with a threshold of 40% of plants infested, or plots managed with a threshold of 0.25 cabbage looper equivalents per plant at one site in 1992, and three site's in 1993, resulted in mean numbers of applications of insecticides and yields that were similar. Plots managed at the threshold of 40% of plants infested, however, required 42% less time to sample, which would result in a significant cost reduction to the grower for crop scouting.