Embodiments of the present invention relate to soil conditioning/amending equipment for use with a tractor or similar hauling equipment to improve soil conditions of a vineyard, orchard, field, or the like. Embodiments of the soil conditioning equipment include a leading bow-shaped structure that cuts through the soil when dragged from the surface by the tractor, etc. The bow shaped structure (injector) is part of an open chute that moves thorough the soil to break up the soil and create an opening for soil amendment to fall through. Compost and/or other soil amendments are poured on a conveyor and into the void landing roughly 1-3 feet below the soil line. The soil and amendments are mixed together in the wake of the injector by waterfall-like currents both above and below the soil line as the void in the soil collapses as the tractor moves forward.

An autonomous vehicle platform and system for selectively performing an in-season management task in an agricultural field while self-navigating between rows of planted crops, the autonomous vehicle platform having a vehicle base with a width so dimensioned as to be insertable through the space between two rows of planted crops, the vehicle base having an in-season task management structure configured to perform various tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field.

A feed control system for a spreader includes a section configuration module configured to output a section configuration and a section control module configured to receive the section configuration, determine a first actuator position based on the section configuration, and determine a second actuator position based on the section configuration. The feed control system also includes a belt speed module configured to receive the section configuration, receive a commanded belt speed, and determine a target belt speed based on (i) the section configuration and (ii) the commanded belt speed.

A solid carrier sprayer apparatus, including a solid carrier container, a liquid container, a solid carrier spreading apparatus, and a liquid application apparatus is provided. The solid carrier spreading apparatus can be coupled to receive solid carrier from the solid carrier container, and is configured to drop the received solid carrier substantially evenly over an area of ground. The liquid application apparatus can be coupled to receive liquid from the liquid container, and is configured to spray received liquid substantially evenly over the received solid carrier, such that the liquid is sprayed substantially evenly over the received solid carrier before the solid carrier is dropped substantially evenly over the area of ground. Methods of using a solid carrier sprayer apparatus are also discussed.

The present invention relates to a method for applying biochar to turf and landscape to allow the turf and landscape to be effectively maintained under reduced water and/or reduced fertilizer applications.

Method for controlling a device for changing the spreading ring sector of a disc spreader including a controllable metering device, a distributor disc arranged underneath the metering device and provided with thrower blades, and the device for changing the spreading ring sector of the granular material on the ground. Functional dependencies of a setting parameter of the device for changing the spreading ring sector on a throwing parameter are stored in a database of a control unit assigned to the device for adjusting the spreading ring sector, and a set point value of the throwing parameter or of the setting parameter corresponding thereto is input in the control unit. An actual value of the throwing parameter is determined using a sensor, arranged near to the circumference of the distributor disc, and the actual value of the throwing parameter is compared with the set point value thereof in the control unit.

A system for automatically controlling fertilizer application during the performance of a planting operation includes a row unit of a planting implement, the row unit being configured to deposit seeds within soil and having a fertilizer applicator configured to selectively dispense fertilizer. The system further includes a first sensor that generates first data indicative of a first nutrient-related parameter(s) within a field, and a second sensor supported on the planting implement that generates second data indicative of a second nutrient-related parameter(s) within the field, rearward of the row unit. A computing system determines an initial amount of the nutrient(s) within the field based on the first data, controls an operation of the fertilizer applicator to dispense the fertilizer onto the field, and determines an updated amount of the nutrient(s) within the field based on the second data.

The present disclosure relates to a gas explosion type intelligent variable-rate fertilization scarifier for a tea garden. The gas explosion type intelligent variable-rate fertilization scarifier includes a walking mechanism, a fertilization-scarifying mechanism, a gas explosion mechanism, a solid fertilizer supply mechanism, and a water fertilizer supply mechanism. The fertilization-scarifying mechanism includes a transmission assembly, a detection assembly, and a fertilization-scarifying assembly. A first fertilizer conveying pipeline is fixedly connected between the solid fertilizer supply mechanism and the fertilization-scarifying assembly, and a second fertilizer conveying pipeline is fixedly connected between the water fertilizer supply mechanism and the fertilization-scarifying assembly. Each of the first fertilizer conveying pipeline and the second fertilizer conveying pipeline is provided with a solenoid valve. The walking mechanism, the gas explosion mechanism, the solid fertilizer supply mechanism, the water fertilizer supply mechanism, the fertilization-scarifying mechanism and the solenoid valves are all electrically connected to a same controller.

An autonomous vehicle platform system and method configured to perform various in-season management tasks, including selectively applying fertilizer, mapping growth zones and seeding cover crop within an agricultural field, while self-navigating between rows of planted crops and beneath the canopy of the planted crops on the uneven terrain of an agricultural field, allowing for an ideal in-season application of fertilizer to occur once the planted crop is well established and growing rapidly, in an effort to limit the loss of fertilizer.

Implements and applicators provide for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluids to plants in rows in a field includes a base disposed between adjacent rows of plants, and at least one application member connected to the base and disposed to apply fluid to a rhizosphere of a row of the plants.