An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

A method for determining soil moisture of a scene includes (i) generating a first antenna output in response to an upwelling thermal emission from the scene. (ii) generating a second antenna output in response to a downwelling thermal emission from sky above the scene. (iii) coupling the first antenna output and the second antenna output to yield a combined output having a quadrature phase difference between the first antenna output and the second antenna output. (iv) calculating a brightness-temperature difference based at least partially on the combined output. and (v) calculating a soil moisture based on soil-vegetation radiative transfer model using the brightness-temperature difference.

A device (12) for measuring the water content of the ground, vegetation and snow, comprises: at least one first module (20) adapted to measure a flow of cosmic rays incident to the ground; at least one second module (40) adapted to measure an ambient neutron flow; and a control unit (60) connected to said at least one first module (20) and said at least one second module (40). The control unit (60) is adapted to process the measurements of said at least one first module (20) and said at least one second module (40) to determine the measurement of the water content.

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the as collected condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.

The invention relates to the analysis of field characteristics to help determine prescriptions for crop input levels. A non-conductive enclosure houses a mapping system. The enclosure has a rectangular base and four walls extending from the base. A removable cover is received by the four walls. A foam interior receives at least one conductivity sensor. A port receives at least one electrical connection from an agricultural equipment in order to interface with the mapping system. A mounting assembly may mount the non-conductive enclosure to the agricultural equipment.

A soil sampler assembly includes a utility vehicle and a soil sampler module coupled to the utility vehicle. The utility vehicle includes a cab, and the soil sampler module is configured to deposit a soil sample in the cab. For example, the soil sampler assembly includes a conveyor system configured to convey the soil sample to the cab. The conveyor system includes a central conveyor and a lateral conveyor that feeds the central conveyor. The central conveyor is on a travel track. The soil sampler assembly further includes a sampler arm assembly. The sampler arm assembly includes a power cylinder, a guide cylinder, a transfer block, and a probe. The probe has a tip, and the tip of the probe includes an outer surface defining an outer taper bore and an inner surface defining an inner taper bore.

A sensor system for determining soil characteristics is disclosed herein. The sensor system includes a ground engaging device for coupling to an agricultural implement. The ground engaging device includes at least one disc member having an aperture and an elongate shaft extending through the aperture. A first sensor unit is arranged on a sensing surface of the disc member and is configured to measure forces acting on the disc member. A second sensor unit is arranged on the elongate shaft and is configured to measure forces acting on the shaft. A processor is communicatively coupled to each of the first and second sensor units. The processor is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a soil characteristic based on the forces measured.

System and method for detecting a leakage of a nutrient from soil is provided. The nutrient is applied by a nutrient applicator associated with a work vehicle. The method includes receiving, by one or more processors, sensor signals from at least one sensor coupled to a nutrient applicator that observes a temperature of the soil and generates sensor signals based on the observation. The method includes determining, by the one or more processors, whether the observed temperature of the soil exceeds a pre-defined threshold temperature. The method includes generating, by the one or more processors, one or more notifications to a human-machine interface that the nutrient has leaked from the soil based on the observed temperature exceeding the pre-defined threshold temperature.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of irrigation and water conservancy, and discloses a method for acquiring anisotropic basin surface roughness and use thereof. The method includes: preselecting two experimental strip fields respectively parallel to length direction and width direction of a target basin, to respectively acquire first surface water flow advancing process data of the two experimental strip fields, where the target basin may be regarded as a square-shaped field; acquiring two pieces of isotropic basin surface roughness respectively by using one-dimensional complete hydrodynamic model for basin irrigation according to the surface water flow advancing process data; and substituting the isotropic basin surface roughness into an elliptic equation that anisotropic basin surface roughness satisfies, to solve anisotropic basin surface roughness of the target basin, the anisotropic basin surface roughness including basin surface roughness components parallel to and perpendicular to shallow furrows on basin surface and crop planting direction in the target basin. The anisotropic basin surface roughness can truly reflect the resistance of the basin surface against the water flow, thereby improving simulation precision of surface irrigation hydrodynamics, and acquiring more accurate irrigation performance indexes.

A method and system for managing nitrogen applied by nitrogen application equipment to a geographic region includes determining a growth stage for the geographic region using a crop module, and determining a nitrogen change for the geographic region based on the growth stage using a nitrogen change module, which can additionally or alternatively include determining an amount of nitrogen initially available for a geographic region.