Embodiments herein relate to a time domain depth sensor system and method for determining a depth of a ground engaging device in soil. The sensor system may include a signal transmission element arranged on an outer periphery of a ground engaging device that is adapted to penetrate soil. The signal transmission element can be arranged to receive and transmit an electrical signal that is responsive to impedance discontinuities detected by a pulse detector. The pulse detector is configured to detect a first and a second reflected signal corresponding to a sensed impedance discontinuities at a first and a second soil location. An electronic data processor is communicatively coupled the pulse detector and is configured to determine the depth of the ground engaging device in the soil based on a difference between a first time of propagation of the first reflected signal and a second time of propagation of the second reflected signal.

An apparatus, method and system for eradicating soil-borne pests in soil utilizing leading and trailing rows of shanks, a source of electricity and a mechanism to determine the condition of the soil being treated. The leading row has ripper shanks that open a path through the soil and the trailing row has specially configured electrically conductive stinger shanks, connected to the source of electricity, that discharge electricity into the soil to electrocute pests. The soil condition determination mechanism comprises one or more soil probes in a probe row disposed between the leading and trailing rows. The soil probe reads the condition of the soil in the path cut by the ripper shanks and transmits a signal to a voltage controller that is connected to the source of electricity to adjust the output thereof to the stinger shanks to automatically compensate for changing soil conditions to effectively and efficiently eradicate pests.

An apparatus, method and system for eradicating soil-borne pests in soil utilizing leading and trailing rows of shanks, a source of electricity and a mechanism to determine the condition of the soil being treated. The leading row has ripper shanks that open a path through the soil and the trailing row has specially configured electrically conductive stinger shanks, connected to the source of electricity, that discharge electricity into the soil to electrocute pests. The soil condition determination mechanism comprises one or more soil probes in a probe row disposed between the leading and trailing rows. The soil probe reads the condition of the soil in the path cut by the ripper shanks and transmits a signal to a voltage controller that is connected to the source of electricity to adjust the output thereof to the stinger shanks to automatically compensate for changing soil conditions to effectively and efficiently eradicate pests.

A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.

Treatment systems and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a treatment system includes a frame, a motion assembly coupled with the frame, and wherein the motion assembly is configured to enable the treatment apparatus to move to traverse over ground of a treatment location, and an electrode assembly coupled with the frame, and wherein the electrode assembly comprises a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the ground of the treatment location during the traversal of the treatment location by the treatment system.

Treatment systems and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a treatment system includes a frame, a motion assembly coupled with the frame, and wherein the motion assembly is configured to enable the treatment apparatus to move to traverse over ground of a treatment location, and an electrode assembly coupled with the frame, and wherein the electrode assembly comprises a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to the ground of the treatment location during the traversal of the treatment location by the treatment system.

A sensing system for obtaining a gradient of soil properties in real-time as a function of soil depth is disclosed herein. The sensing system includes a support structure coupled to an agricultural implement and which is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to a frame of the agricultural implement. A sensor is arranged on a surface of the support structure and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the measured soil property based on a sensed a capacitance change corresponding to a change in a dielectric property of a measured soil sample with which the sensor interacts. A measuring unit is coupled to the at least one sensor and processes the output signal generated by the at least one sensor to generate a gradient profile of the soil properties in real-time as a function of one or more depths for display on a user interface.

Embodiments herein relate to a time domain depth sensor system and method for determining a depth of a ground engaging device in soil. The sensor system may include a signal transmission element arranged on an outer periphery of a ground engaging device that is adapted to penetrate soil. The signal transmission element can be arranged to receive and transmit an electrical signal that is responsive to impedance discontinuities detected by a pulse detector. The pulse detector is configured to detect a first and a second reflected signal corresponding to a sensed impedance discontinuities at a first and a second soil location. An electronic data processor is communicatively coupled the pulse detector and is configured to determine the depth of the ground engaging device in the soil based on a difference between a first time of propagation of the first reflected signal and a second time of propagation of the second reflected signal.

An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.