A method for building and using soil models that determine soil properties from soil spectrum data is provided. In an embodiment, building soil model may be accomplished using soil spectrum data received via hyperspectral sensors from a land unit. A processor updates the soil spectrum data by removing interference signals from the soil spectrum data. Multiple ground sampling locations within the land unit are then determined based on the updated soil spectrum data. Soil property data are obtained from ground sampling at the ground sampling locations. Soil models that correlate the updated soil spectrum data with the soil property data are created based on the updated soil spectrum data and the soil property data. The soil models are sent to a storage for future use.

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 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 is coupled to the soil sampler module and defines a longitudinal interior channel configured to receive the soil sample and release the soil sample for collection. The probe is rotatable from a first orientation facing the ground to a second orientation where the probe is facing opposite the ground for releasing the soil sample onto the conveyor system.

A method is provided for determining soil properties for an area of land, from soil spectrum data. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving soil spectrum data records from hyperspectral sensors that represent a mean soil spectrum of a specific geo-location of the area of land and removing interference signals from the spectrum data records to create soil spectral bands. The method also includes predicting a plurality of soil property datasets based on a partial least-square regression and the soil spectral bands and selecting specific soil property datasets from the plurality of soil property datasets to represent soil properties of the specific geo-location, wherein the specific soil property datasets include property data and spectral band data for spectral bands used to determine the property data. The specific soil property datasets may then be used to generate a crop prescription of recommended hybrid seeds or population densities for the specific geo-location.

[Problem] To provide: a core barrel head capable of definitely recovering an inner tube in which a geological sample has been collected in a situation where excavation is performed in a horizontal direction and in a rising gradient direction; an inner tube assembly provided with said core barrel head; and an inner tube recovery method. [Solution] The present invention has: a main shaft 31 connected to the rear end of an inner tube 2; an inner fixing latch 32 that is axially supported at a substantially intermediate position along an axial direction of the main shaft 31; a latch disengagement slide tube 33 that is mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the main shaft 31 slidably in the axial direction and that disengages the inner fixing latch 32 from a locking groove 43 by inclining the inner fixing latch 32 against a biasing force; and a slide tube fixing latch 34 that locks the latch disengagement slide tube 33 at a position where the inner fixing latch 31 is in an expansion state and that disengages the lock of the latch disengagement slide tube 33 by being inclined by an overshot.

[Problem] To provide: a core barrel head capable of definitely recovering an inner tube in which a geological sample has been collected in a situation where excavation is performed in a horizontal direction and in a rising gradient direction; an inner tube assembly provided with said core barrel head; and an inner tube recovery method. [Solution] The present invention has: a main shaft 31 connected to the rear end of an inner tube 2; an inner fixing latch 32 that is axially supported at a substantially intermediate position along an axial direction of the main shaft 31; a latch disengagement slide tube 33 that is mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the main shaft 31 slidably in the axial direction and that disengages the inner fixing latch 32 from a locking groove 43 by inclining the inner fixing latch 32 against a biasing force; and a slide tube fixing latch 34 that locks the latch disengagement slide tube 33 at a position where the inner fixing latch 31 is in an expansion state and that disengages the lock of the latch disengagement slide tube 33 by being inclined by an overshot.

A method, system and computer program product for determining soil properties comprising a probe including at least a liquid injection port and a pressure transducer. The probe is pushed into a soil and one or more pumping tests are carried out, wherein during a pumping test infiltration liquid is pumped through the liquid injection port of the probe. The pressure response in the soil resulting from the injection of liquid through the liquid injection port is measured for each of the one or more pumping tests.

A method, system and computer program product for determining soil properties comprising a probe including at least a liquid injection port and a pressure transducer. The probe is pushed into a soil and one or more pumping tests are carried out, wherein during a pumping test infiltration liquid is pumped through the liquid injection port of the probe. The pressure response in the soil resulting from the injection of liquid through the liquid injection port is measured for each of the one or more pumping tests.

An automated, fieldable ion-selective sensor system for frequent detection of nutrients in soils or water is set forth. In one aspect, an integrated small form-factor housing includes a battery, processor, a fluid manipulation unit and reservoirs, and a chemical species detection cell. A flow-through sampling head can be connected to the detection cell and a waste reservoir by flexible tubing sealingly connected at opposite ends of the tube. In one aspect, improved performance of the ion-selective sensor includes adding an ion-to-electron transfer interlayer between an ion-selective membrane and its working electrode. In one aspect, the sensor is solid-state and uses printed polymeric composite of POT-MoS.sub.2. The use of a porous tube for a sampling head and fluid connection at opposite ends allows not only fluid to be removed from the head to the detection cell for measurement but also flow in an opposite direction and out to a waste reservoir to clean and reset for a next sample measurement.

A method for determining national crop yields during the growing season is provided. In an embodiment, a server computer system receives agricultural data records for a particular year that represent covariate data values related to plants at a specific geo-location at a specific time. The system aggregates the records to create geo-specific time series for a geo-location over a specified time. The system creates aggregated time series from a subset of the geo-specific time series. The system selects a representative feature from the aggregated time series and creates a covariate matrix for each specific geographic area in computer memory. The system determines a specific state crop yield for a specific year using linear regression to calculate the specific state crop yield from the covariate matrix. The system determines a national crop yield for the specific year using the sum of the state crop yields for the specific year nationally adjusted.

Disclosed herein is a variable soil sampling device which may be customized with respect to sampling rate and sorbent material used. Multiple variable sampling devices may be attached to each other to simultaneously sample different components or contaminants in the same time period.