GR1009430B - Field diagnostic toolbox for proper agricultural practice control - Google Patents

Abstract

Novelty: a field diagnostic toolbox is disclosed. Constitution: a set of sensors for the registration of earth in-situ data, earth indices and vegetation indices. Embodiment: a set of earth in-situ data are transferred in real time to a central data geobase where they are processed and correlated with reference data in order to produce services for the users who could be producers, argonomists and state sector’s services. Advantages: it is a mobile laboratory which, compared to laboratory installations, offers direct and accurate measurements, reception of big number of data and low cost utilisation. Purpose: developed by the diabalcanic environment centre, the invention aims at the registration of the earth in-situ data which are necessary for the verification and correction of the spaceborne data as well as at offering high accuracy services to the final users, according to their needs.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Good Agricultural Practices Field Inspection Diagnostic Toolkit

The Field Diagnostic Toolbox consists of a set of field sensors to measure a range of soil and vegetation indices. These indicators give information about the condition of the soil and the crop, in order to evaluate the correctness of the management practices followed. With the measurements taken in the field in a short period of time, an initial diagnosis of the state of the soil ecosystem and plants can be made. However, a comprehensive diagnosis requires the correlation of these indicators with historical data and reference levels. This is achieved by sending the data through the appropriate application to the Trans-Balkan Environment Center Geodatabase.

Data is generated in the field using the sensors in the toolbox, according to the usage protocol that has been developed. The data can be transferred in real time through the fd tool driver, (DRAW 3) to a central Geodatabase through an application developed in an android environment compatible with mobile phones and tablets. The data goes through a process of debugging, storage and correlation with background data and data from other sources (eg satellite data).

The communication signal transducer is an interface device to tablet devices and digital sensors designed for environmental data acquisition (EDA). The communication signal converter is designed and manufactured in Greece and contains developed software.

The purpose of this process is to transform data into services to end users. The services focus on the field of agricultural production with an emphasis on the ecological footprint of practices and relevance to National and European policy. The services will be provided through the Agricultural Advisors. Examples of such services are:

✓ Services for determining spatio-temporally differentiated inputs (irrigation, fertilization, plant protection) in agriculture.

✓ Control service for the application of measures to protect against nitrate pollution.

✓ Service to control the application of the Codes of Good Agricultural Practices.

✓ Service for checking the suitability of territorial types in relation to the applied management practices.

✓ Spatial planning service for the application of crops, through the use of a multi-criteria model with the co-evaluation of soil-climatic zones.

The field diagnostic toolkit enables data acquisition from a wide range of ground measurements. In more detail the measurements and the tools used for each measurement:

> Presence of an impenetrable horizon, using the penetrometer (04B). The metal rod is placed vertically on the ground and pressed with force. If there is no cohesive horizon the rod should penetrate the ground smoothly. If the same resistance is observed at the same depth, there is an impenetrable horizon.

> Soil structure, with correlation to structure standards. A section of the surface soil (0-20cm) is opened with the shovel and its structure is visually observed

> Soil texture, empirical estimation, using the shovel (02B) to extract soil

> Filtration Rate, calculated using the metal filter cylinder (12B), the wooden surface (22B) and the hammer (1 1B). The metal cylinder is placed on the ground and stabilized to prevent leaks. With the help of the wooden surface it is nailed to the ground until it is etched and filled with water. The filtration time is recorded.

> Soil respiration, calculated with the help of the metal cylinder with the cap for taking a gaseous sample (12B), the syringe (09 A), two plastic tubes and a CO2 measurement flask (07B). The same procedure as for determining the filtration rate is carried out, the metal cylinder is sealed as soon as it reaches a point of water capacity. The measuring vial is placed by connecting one end to the rubber tube with the syringe needle in the rubber socket from the cylinder cap, and the other is joined to the syringe. The arrow on the vial should point towards the syringe. To estimate soil respiration, a 100ml gaseous sample is taken and the color change in the measuring vial is observed.

> Organic Substance estimated by chromatogram (23B)

> 1:1 suspension pH, calculated using the portable EC pH sensor (05 A).

After adding a quantity of soil to water in a volume ratio of 1:1, the pH electrode is immersed in the surface suspension and the measurement is taken.

> 1:1 suspension electrical conductivity, calculated using the portable EC pH sensor (05A) in the same way as for pH calculation

> N-NO3

> K → Calculated using a reflectometer (04 A) and the

> P-P04 special test-strip for each parameter (16B). The is selected

> CaC03, estimate code of each nutrient on the reflectometer screen > of HC1 bottle (1 and according to the instructions for use for each nutrient ase of the foam and classified.

> Leaf NDVI, using a digital NDVI sensor (06A)

> Soil moisture

> Soil temperature → Calculated using a digital sensor

> Soil EC → moisture, temperature and soil EC (08A)

> Leaf PRI, using digital PRI sensor (07A)

For NDVI, PRI, humidity, temperature and soil EC measurements, the appropriate sensor is connected and selected via the tablet application to take measurements. When the measurement is stabilized it is selected from the "Save" menu. The measurement is saved together with its geographic location in the memory of the tablet/mobile phone. If the device is connected to the Internet, "Send Measurements" is selected and the measurement is sent to the Geographical Database of the Trans-Balkan Environment Center. If there is no internet connection available in the field, the "Send Measurements" can be carried out any time there is internet available.

Brief description of field diagnostic toolkit contents

Upper Level A, (SCHEDULE 1)

(01 A) 8 inch tablet”

(02A) Drager Detection Tubes for Carbon Dioxide 0.1 %/a. glass calibrated tubes for estimating soil respiration -CO2- in %.

(03A) Communication signal converter (fd tool driver), for connecting the sensors to the tablet cables, includes micro USB connection cables, connecting the signal decoder to the tablet.

(04 A) RQflex 10 Reflectometer portable reflectometer with slots for strips that measure soil nutrients with a different code for each nutrient.

(05A) Portable EC, pH, TDS sensor gives measurements for suspension EC, pH and TDS. (06A) NDVI sensor calculates the NDVI vegetation index.

(07A) PRI sensor calculates the PRI vegetation index.

(08A) EC, humidity, temperature digital sensor gives readings for EC, humidity and temperature in the field.

(09A) A 100ml syringe is used to calculate soil CO2 and is connected to the Drager Detection Tubes via rubber tubes.

(10A) Magnifying glass for smartphone adaptation.

(11A) Microscope portable field microscope.

Lower Level B (DRAFT 2)

(01B) Spatula helps to obtain an undisturbed sample and to determine organic matter.

(02B) Spade is used for opening surface holes.

(03B) A sampler is used to take a soil sample.

(04B) Penetrometer is used to detect impermeable horizon

(05B) A 250ml soil water mixing container is used to prepare a 1:1 solution by volume.

(06B) Sealable sampling bags storage of soil samples

(07B) Plastic tube and 2 needles for taking a gas sample for CO2 determination.

(08B) Plastic vials for taking a drop of sample for taking the extract 1 : 1 and depositing it on the strips for the determination of nutrients.

(09B) Marker recording of the coding of the sampling points.

(10B) Doser for receiving a specific amount of soil water for the preparation of the 1:1 suspension.

(11B) Hammer strikes the wooden surface to drive the roller deeper into the ground.

(12B) Metal percolation cylinder, cap gas sampling, soil percolation rate and soil respiration are calculated.

(13B) 3 sampling rollers for sampling disturbed or undisturbed sample.

(14B) Porcelain capsule is used to determine calcium carbonate. (15B) Water cannon contains deionized water

(16B)N,P,K strips strips for the determination of nutritional NPK in combination with the portable reflectometer.

(17B) Vial of HC1 is used to determine calcium carbonate.

(18B) A 50ml lined vial is used to concentrate the extract. ( 19B) Electronic Scale 1000gr

(20B) Metro tape

(21B) Filtration filters are used for filtration and extraction

(22B) A wooden surface is used to place the roller deeper into the ground.

(23B) Visual identification of organic matter guide for quality assessment

soil organic matter.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS The majority of commercial in situ digital sensors of environmental parameters (climatic, soil, plant parameters) transfer their data via an SDI connection. 1. The innovation of the toolkit lies in the way of reading and storing data in the field and transferring it and storing it in a central Geodatabase. For data reading, an Android Adapter (03A) has been built (PICTURE 3) with SDI input and FTDI output (PICTURE 4). In particular, it consists of a micro USB port for the connection to the tablet, an SDI-12 port for the connection to the sensors and a detachable cap which, if removed, gives access to change the 9V battery. Specifications: 5V DC OPERATING VOLTAGE from USB CONSUMPTION 10 mA NUMBER OF INPUTS 1 (SDI-12) MULTIPLE OUTPUTS 1 (USB - SERIAL) SENSOR OPERATING VOLTAGE 9 V (BATTERY) 2. Using the Android Adapter (03A) this data is transferred to the FDI output and from there with a USB connection it is connected to an android device (01A) (laptop/tablet/smart phone). The reading of the data is done through a special software (Android application) that has been created (FD Tool). When using the software by connecting each sensor to the android device, the device automatically recognizes the type of connected sensor and opens the measurement display form. The measurements taken are stored locally in the storage space of the device, and through an internet connection are transferred to a selected server, where a special Geodatabase has been built. For measurements/observations made using non-digital equipment, there is a suitable form in the FD Tool application that guides the user in which fields, in what format and in what order to enter these measurements/observations. These measurements are also stored locally and transferred in the same way as the measurements of the digital sensors (06A), (07A), (08A). 3. A Geodatabase has been created on the server where the data of the toolbox ends up. There is a correlation between the field data entered through the FD Tool and reference data recorded in the Geobase from other sources (historical data, satellite data, etc.). Through this correlation, field data and conclusions are evaluated using the Decision Making System to provide service owner/user of the field of origin crop manager). , as an advisory treatment to the data owner (the producer, or