Customized in-furrow product delivery system and method for potato planter

Abstract

A potato planter has a customized, 3D precise, in-furrow product delivery system mounted thereon. The in-furrow product delivery system is operated by a controller configured for analyzing pressure characteristics received from pressure sensors in pinch rollers of the planter and for determining characteristics of seed blocks and the amount and location of in-furrow product required by each seed block. The distribution of products within the furrows is selectively performed in two or three dimensions. The distribution of the product within the furrows takes place in a symmetric horizontal placement and a symmetric volume with respect to the centroid of the seed mass. The distribution may also be performed in a third dimension on the ground of the furrows or over a soil layer of selective thickness over the seed blocks.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application #63 / 455,312, filed March 29, 2023. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention is suitable for in-furrow product application for agricultural crops, and more particularly for calibrated in-furrow product application at the speed of the machine planting. BACKGROUND

[0003] Precision agriculture is the method of thinking and working in the modern agricultural community. Technological advances, economic conditions, and environmental pressures put stress on every farmer. Today, the common goal is to improve performance while reducing costs.

[0004] An important aspect of precision agriculture is to limit the application of in-furrow products to the intended location of the planted seed, as opposed to broadcast or strip application.

[0005] Examples of systems for selective application of in-furrow products found in the prior art include: Using a seed sensor in the seed tube: US 2021 / 0,059,107 published March 4, 2021; US 2004 / 0,231,575 published November 25, 2004.

[0006] Detecting the seed on the ground: US 2020 / 0,253,107 published August 13, 2020; WO 2019 / 050,944 published March 14, 2019.

[0007] In the industrial machines found in the prior art, the exact position of the seed is detected by proximity detectors, accelerometers, electromagnetic sensors, visual detectors, or by synchronization with the seed drop, and granular or liquid in-furrow products are applied directly on the soil above and / or in the vicinity of the seed.

[0008] While the prior art contains many concepts of seed planters with selective in-furrow product delivery, these planters are designed for small seeds such as corn, beans, and peas. None of these machines are applicable to potato planting. Therefore, it is believed that there is a market demand for a potato planter capable of applying in-furrow products moderately to the potato seed pieces.

[0009] Potato seed pieces are commonly known in the agricultural vernacular as potato sets or planting sets. "Set" represents a small piece of stem or a portion of a tuber. For the sake of convenience, the word "set" can be used herein interchangeably with seed and seed piece to refer to any plant precursor planted in the ground for the purpose of producing a crop. Thus, in the description of the preferred embodiments, the expressions "potato set," "planting set," "seed piece," or "potato seed" are used herein to describe the same thing and should not be construed as limiting to the invention.

[0010] Similarly, the expression "in-furrow product" as used herein is to be understood as a starter fertilizer product, a nitrogen-based agricultural product, a phosphorus-based agricultural product, a biological additive, a pesticide, an insecticide, a fungicide, or other seed amendment product, a plant treatment product, or a crop protection product in liquid form, gel form, granular form, or powder form. In the description of the preferred embodiments, the above products are also collectively referred to as in-furrow products or agricultural products. The placement of the in-furrow products as shown in the drawings is to be understood as agricultural products that are placed in the vicinity of the seed pieces without contacting the seed pieces or above the seed pieces, spaced-apart applications, in elongated strips between, beside, or above the seed pieces, or on top of the furrow.

[0011] Generally, high phosphorus and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are needed during the early growth stages of potato plants. These agricultural products are typically liquid-based fertilizers and are applied in-furrow in the form of a direct spray on the seed pieces or in strip form on either side of the plants before the rows are closed. Currently, the standard practice is to make continuous liquid sprays or strip applications of these products without stopping between the plants. Because these products are needed immediately after the potato seed pieces begin to sprout, the products that are sprayed between the seeds are not utilized as effectively as the products that are placed closer to the new plants. This example illustrates the market need for a potato planter that is capable of applying in-furrow products moderately to potato seed pieces to reduce waste. SUMMARY

[0012] The potato planters of interest herein are described in the following documents.

[0013] U.S. Patent 9,258,940, issued February 16, 2016, to the present inventor; U.S. Patent 9,930,826, issued April 3, 2018, to the present inventor, and U.S. Application 2021 / 0,007,273, published January 14, 2021, by the present inventor. All of these documents are included herein by reference.

[0014] A potato planter of interest herein has a relatively wide furrow opening shoe and a press wheel mounted behind the furrow opening shoe and a seed delivery ramp to inhibit seed piece tumbling in the planted seed piece. The press wheel is an inflatable wheel that deforms as it rolls over the planted seed piece. The inflatable wheel has a pressure sensor mounted to it that detects the deformation in the wheel as it rolls over the planted seed piece. The press wheel is mounted to a structure that allows adjustment of the ground pressure caused by the wheel.

[0015] The present application describes a potato planter with a customized in-furrow product delivery system controlled by a pressure sensor mounted to the press wheel of the planter and a controller configured to analyze the pressure signature received from the pressure sensor as the wheel rolls over the planted seed piece and to correlate the pressure signature to the physical characteristics of the planted seed piece, the exact location of the planted seed piece and the planted seed piece's centroid relative to the planter and to determine the optimal amount / volume and ideal placement of in-furrow product required by the seed piece from the above detected physical characteristics.

[0016] In another aspect of the present potato planter with a customized in-furrow product delivery system, the physical characteristics of the planted seed piece are determined from a group of characteristics including small seed piece, average size seed piece, large seed piece, missing seed piece, double drop seed piece, no drop furrow space and seed piece blemish.

[0017] As stated, the common characteristic detected for each planted seed piece is the centroid of each planted seed piece relative to the location of the planter. The root system of the plant tends to grow symmetrically about the centroid of the plant and therefore to more efficiently absorb product by the root system of the plant, in the present invention the in-furrow product placement is symmetrically about the centroid of the planted seed piece.

[0018] In yet another aspect of the present potato planter with a customized in-furrow product delivery system, the response time between the step of causing the inflatable press wheel to generate a pressure signature and the step of dispensing in-furrow product to the seed piece is 35 to 90 milliseconds.

[0019] In still another aspect of the present potato planter with a customized in-furrow product delivery system, the in-furrow product delivery is both in a symmetric distance and a symmetric volume about the centroid of the planted seed piece along a horizontal plane of the planting surface.

[0020] The customized product delivery is performed on a rolled planting surface with reduced liquid permeability for delayed downward absorption of the agricultural product by the planted seed piece. In yet another dimension, the customized in-furrow product delivery is performed above the soil covering a selective thickness of the planted seed piece for delayed leaching of the product to the planted seed piece.

[0021] The distribution of in-row product is made with respect to the symmetrical horizontal placement of the centroid of the seed piece and the symmetrical volume. It is also possible to distribute in the third dimension on the ground of the furrow or above the soil layer of selective thickness or both.

[0022] This summary of the invention is provided in order to quickly understand the nature of the invention. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a partial side view of a potato planter of interest herein equipped with a customized in-row granular product delivery system; Figure 2 is an example of pressure signatures given by the instrumentation in the press wheels of the preferred planter as the press wheels of the preferred planter roll over a planting seed piece; Figure 3 and Figure 4 is the presentation of the press wheels and planting events of the preferred planter in Figure 1 rolling over different seed piece sizes with their corresponding pressure signatures; Figure 5 and Figure 6 shows the presentation of in-row product delivery patterns with two different types of in-row granular product; Figure 7 presents a typical potato seed piece with two potato eyelets; Figure 8 presents the different slopes of the hyperbolic entry segment of the typical pressure signatures from the press wheels according to different seed piece sizes; Figure 9 is a partial schematic illustration of a liquid form in-row product delivery system; Figure 10 is a partial side view of the press wheels of the preferred planter with a partial view of the liquid form in-row product delivery orifices; Figure 11 shows the press wheels and a series of orifices for the distribution of liquid agricultural product mounted to the structure associated with the press wheels; Figure 12 is a perspective view of one example of in-row product delivery patterns; Figure 13 is another perspective view of a second example of in-row product delivery patterns; Figure 14 is a plan view of in-row product delivery patterns.

[0024] Figure 15is a partial cross-sectional view of a preferred planter and a partial cross-sectional view of a furrow showing a typical amount of soil being pushed over the planting seed piece by the closing discs, closing discs or spade of the planter during closure of the furrow; Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of a three-dimensional placement of planting seed pieces and in-furrow products within a furrow, with a first layer dispensed on the ground of the furrow and other alternative options shown at different spacings above the planting seed pieces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Reference Figure 1 , the preferred potato planter has wide opening shoes 20, a seed delivery tower 22 from which seed falls singly along the illustrated seed path 24. The seed pieces are immediately directed under a press wheel 26 to prevent seed piece rolling of the seed pieces along the furrow. An in-furrow product hose 28 from an in-furrow product hopper (not shown) extends between the coulter discs 30, or at any other convenient location, to deliver in-furrow product to the planting seed piece prior to closure of the furrow. This in-furrow product delivery hose 28 preferably has a rotary valve, pump or similar quick response actuator (not shown) on its bottom end 28' for immediate delivery of in-furrow product upon receipt of a delivery command. Although the expression "coulter discs" is used herein, "closing discs" and "spade" or combinations of discs and spade are also used on some planters.

[0026] The press wheel 26 in the preferred potato planter is inflatable and has a sensitive pressure sensor (not shown) mounted in or to it to measure the deformation of the press wheel as it rolls over the planting seed piece and to transmit pressure data to a controller (not shown). The controller includes a timer and is connected with a speedometer of the planter to record the pressure signal in relation to the position and speed of the planter.

[0027] As can be appreciated, the pressure sensor in or on the press wheel generates a first readable waveform signal 40 at a very early stage during the initial contact of the press wheel with the seed piece. This first signal occurs during the entry segment 42 of the unidirectional waveform shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0028] The first signal 42 occurs prior to the formation of the full waveform 40 representing substantial deformation of the surface of the wheel as it rolls over the planting seed piece.

[0029] Referring again to Figure 1 , the first readable signal occurs at a generous lead time 'A' prior to the location of the nozzle of the in-furrow product delivery hose to enable delivery of in-furrow product at a reasonable distance ahead of the seed piece location.

[0030] The use of the pressure wheel 26, pressure sensor, controller, and data transmitter provides a number of advantages over optical sensors, accelerometers, magnetic and proximity detectors found in planters in the prior art, as can be appreciated from Figure 2 The waveform feature 40 shown therein is a typical unidirectional waveform feature given by a pneumatic sensor. The waveform has hyperbolic entry and exit segments and an elliptical top. The curvature and slope of the hyperbolic wave entry segment 42 can be interpreted to obtain a first approximation of the size of the seed piece, as explained later with reference to Figure 8 The peak width 'B' and peak width at half height 'C' of the wave 40 can also be interpreted to determine the final size and shape of the seed piece. The period 'D' and amplitude 'E' also indicate potato piece characteristics.

[0031] The maximum amplitude "E" is the high pressure point of the waveform 40. This point represents the high point on the seed piece. This point is a reliable approximation of the centroid, center of gravity, center of volume, middle point of the planting seed piece, middle point of the double seed drop, and this point is referred to herein as the centroid 46 of the planting seed piece.

[0032] By interpreting the waveform 40 in parts or in combinations of parts, one can determine whether the seed piece is a small seed piece 50, an average seed piece 52, or a large seed piece 54. It is also possible to determine whether the seed piece has an elongated shape 56, a double seed drop 58, or a missing seed / no drop furrow space 60, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 The waveform 40 can also be analyzed to determine planting events such as seed piece flaws such as flat or broken pieces of seed pieces that do not have sufficient mass for the sprout to grow.

[0033] Furthermore, as described earlier, the size and shape of the potato piece can be determined at the early part of the pressure feature 40 so that in-furrow product delivery can begin a distance ahead of the seed piece, as shown in Figure 5 to Figure 6

[0034] Because of the early time 'A' of reading the pressure sensor signal and obtaining an early estimate of the seed piece size as explained earlier, in-furrow product delivery can begin a generous distance 'A' ahead of the planting seed piece 70, as shown in Figure 5 If desired, in-furrow product delivery can be increased ahead of the seed piece 70 by reading and interpreting the strength of the slope of the curve of the hyperbolic entry segment 42, as shown in Figure 5 as a hump 72 along the strip of in-furrow product.

[0035] ​It will be appreciated that the controller is used in analyzing the pressure sensor signal curve and in timely delivery of the customized amount of in-row product. As shown, for some types of in-row products, the in-row product delivery can stop over the planted seed (as in Figure 5 ) or can be able to spread the product evenly over the seed mass in one continuous strip 74, as in Figure 6 The controller also controls the delivery of the in-row product on the exit side of the seed mass in order to generate a mirror inverted delivery pattern of the pattern delivered on the entry side, for example, to obtain a symmetric delivery of the in-row product on both sides of the centroid 26. Where the controller preferably has an artificial intelligence neural network that is able to train to recognize the entire waveform from a glimpse at the hyperbolic entry segment 42 of the pressure signature 40 to further extend the lead time "A".

[0036] The controller also adjusts the flow rate, start time, end time of the in-row product delivery in relation to the centroid 46 of each seed mass according to the seed mass requirements. The controller further adjusts the flow rate in relation to the distance "A" between the seed mass and the end of the in-row product delivery nozzle 28'. And of course, the in-row product delivery system can be adjusted to place a little in-row product between the planted seeds according to the detected seed mass size, or a continuous strip that varies in thickness.

[0037] Today, potato seed masses are cut into pieces by machines and therefore, it is common to see elongated or oversized seed masses as shown in Figure 7 It is also common to find seed mass imperfections as described earlier.

[0038] Such elongated seed masses as in Figure 7 are prone to have more than one potato eye 76 that will sprout more than one sprout and more than one plant. Such elongated seed masses require more in-row product than small or normal size seed masses. Similarly, double drop seed masses require more in-row product than small size or average size seed masses.

[0039] Planted seed masses have root systems that grow symmetrically in relation to the centroid 45 of the plant. There is an advantage in delivering plant nutrients in a symmetric manner in relation to the centroid of each planted seed mass, in that all roots are fed evenly to obtain uniform size crops from each plant, and to obtain the same growth rate of all seed masses planted in the same field in this manner.

[0040] The combination of the pneumatic pressure sensor, the detection of the centroid of the seed mass, and the controller provide a method for customizing the in-row product delivery to the seed mass requirements according to the seed mass's type, size, shape, and spacing.

[0041] On the other hand, seedless / no drop furrow space or flat, sheet, clump seed requires no in-furrow product. Stopping application of agricultural product over these areas results in savings. Again, the pneumatic pressure sensor and controller can tailor in-furrow product delivery for all potato seed planting events.

[0042] The preferred arrangement for a liquid form in-furrow product dispenser system includes pulse-width modulation nozzles with built-in solenoids in the nozzle tip TM (Pulse-Width Modulation Nozzles TM ) 80. This type of nozzle is designed to operate at high frequencies, thus allowing good control of the in-furrow product application to many seed pieces per second at machine planting speeds. Referring to Figure 9 , the preferred liquid in-furrow product dispensing system includes a planter module 82 containing an in-furrow product tank 84, a pump 86 and a filter 88. A delivery module 90 includes a check valve 92, a flow meter 94, an actuator valve 96, an outlet hose 98 and a delivery nozzle 80. A controller 100 controls the delivery module and a wireless trigger switch 102 in communication with the controller. The planter module 82 can supply several delivery modules 90 on multiple rows of a planter.

[0043] Referring to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , the nozzle 80 is mounted proximate to the press wheel 26, for example on a structure associated with the press wheel. The nozzle 80 is mounted at a distance from the press wheel 26 sufficient to achieve a suitable advance time "A" between seed sensing and in-furrow product delivery. As can be seen in Figure 11 , the type of nozzle 80 used, such as a fan, pencil or flute, is a designer's choice.

[0044] During experimentation, it has been found that the dispensing system response time between seed piece sensing and in-furrow liquid product flow is 35 to 90 milliseconds. To put this response time value in perspective, for example, the application of a 7.5 cm (3 inch) long in-furrow product swath between seed pieces spaced 15 cm. (6 inches) apart at a travel speed of 6 mph. would require a response time of 142 milliseconds between seed piece sensing and in-furrow product flow. Thus, it is believed that the arrangement described in Figure 9 can meet the most demanding seed planting scenarios.

[0045] Referring now to Figure 12 and Figure 13The bottom surface 120 of the furrow after the passage of the press wheel 26 is flat, smooth and uniform in width, presenting a perfect rolling surface 120 on which agricultural products can be placed with precision. The press wheel rolls against the bottom of the furrow to inhibit the rolling of the planting seed piece and to embed the planting seed piece into the bottom of the furrow, such that the planting seed piece is partially covered below the bottom of the furrow, which has the effect of reducing the liquid permeability of the soil at the bottom of the furrow, around the planting seed piece. This surface is referred to as the planting surface 120. This planting surface 120, having reduced permeability, is flat to some extent, uniform in width, as shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13 The planting seed piece 70 is partially buried, with only its crown protruding through the planting surface 120.

[0046] This flat and wide planting surface 120 provides a stable platform to precisely apply in-furrow products with respect to seed piece demand and location. The reduced permeability of the planting surface 120 inhibits, to some extent, the rapid leaching of agricultural products through the soil and waste of product. This reduced liquid permeability is advantageous in many applications, and for example, when the in-furrow agricultural product being applied is a biological growth stimulant designed to be available at the early stages of root growth. The application of in-furrow products required at later stages of plant growth is also enhanced by this rolled planting surface 120.

[0047] Also due to this flat planting surface 120 having reduced liquid permeability, it becomes possible to place in-furrow pesticides in contact with the planting seed piece or in more concentrated applications around the immediate location of the seed piece, or both, to extend the effective time of the product. This planting surface 120, together with the placement of in-furrow products with respect to the centroid 46 of the planting seed piece, enables customized in-furrow product placement to maximize the efficiency of the product's relationship to the plant.

[0048] Figure 12 Examples of in-furrow product placement are shown in

[0049] Another placement of in-furrow products, such as pesticides, is in a patch over each planting seed piece and the surrounding area, as shown in Figure 13

[0050] In the examples shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13 All in-furrow product placement is made symmetrically with respect to the centroid 46 of the planting seed piece. As can be appreciated, the examples provided herein are only two possibilities among the myriad of in-furrow product placements.

[0051] In the examples shown in Figure 14 ​There is shown a preferred delivery of in-furrow product for reducing waste. The in-furrow product to be delivered in each interval 122' is calculated according to the characteristics produced by the respective planting seed piece 70'. The delivery of in-furrow product begins at a distance "J" from the centroid 46 of the planting seed piece 70' and stops at a distance "K" from the centroid 46. Once the nozzle 80 passes the planting seed piece 52', the in-furrow product delivery begins again at a distance "L" from the centroid 46 and stops at a distance "M" from the centroid 46. As can be seen in this example, the in-furrow product delivery is symmetrical about the centroid 46 of the planting seed piece in the horizontal plane of the planting surface. The symmetrical in-furrow product delivery about the centroid of each planting seed piece enhances the likelihood of uniform uptake of the in-furrow product by the root system of the planting seed piece 70'. A further benefit of using an in-furrow product delivery that is symmetrical about the centroid of the planting seed piece is that the placement and amount of product can be tailored to produce uniform growth of all planting seed pieces in the same field regardless of the spacing of the planting seed pieces and regardless of their size and shape.

[0052] The above description shows the placement of in-furrow product in a two-dimensional plane along the planting surface 120 in a symmetrical manner about the centroid of the planting seed piece. The symmetrical placement of in-furrow product in precision agriculture is done to delay uptake of the product by the planting seed piece until the root system of the planting seed piece has grown long enough to at least reach the vicinity of the in-furrow product. There is also an advantage to delaying leaching of the in-furrow product for a determined length of time after planting regardless of the root length of the planting seed piece. The reduced permeability described above is a first level of control for achieving this. In the preferred system according to the present invention, the in-furrow product can be placed over a selective thickness of soil above the planting seed piece during the closing of the furrow. The reduced permeability and further leaching of the soil provides a second level of control for delaying contact of the in-furrow product with the planting seed piece.

[0053] In Figure 15 there is shown the in-furrow product delivery nozzle 80 mounted on an adjustable slide 130. The slide (or equivalent extendable device) is configured to adjust the nozzle 80 forward or backward between the closing discs 30 over a distance "P", for example from the position 80 shown in solid line to the position 80' shown in dashed line or further.

[0054] In Figure 15 there is shown the amount of soil displaced by the closing discs 30 during the closing of the furrow at label 132. It will be understood that the amount of soil 132 shown is an approximation of the amount of soil moved over the planting seed piece 70 to cover the planting seed piece 70.

[0055] For example when the nozzle 80 is adjusted at position 134, the in-furrow product is placed over a thin layer of soil above the planting seed piece 70 as shown in Figure 15line 134' in FIG. 1 1 1 and shown as Figure 16 in layer 134" in FIG. 1 1 1. When the spout 80 is adjusted at position 136, the in- furrow product is placed over, for example, one inch of soil above the planted seed mass, as shown by line 136'. In positions 138, 138' and Figure 16 in layer 138" in FIG. 1 1 1, the in-furrow product is placed over, for example, two inches of soil. In instances 140, 140', the in-furrow product is placed on top of the closed furrow. Referring to Figure 16 , the in-furrow product is delivered in the third dimension according to the desired effect of the specific in-furrow product based on the specific kind of seed mass. Whether it is placed directly on the ground of the planting surface 120 in the base layer 122 or placed in the third dimension, the in-furrow product application in the third dimension is still performed symmetrically about the centroid 46 of the planted seed mass.

[0056] It will be recognized that the addition of two or more sets of spouts in the area "P" allows for the delivery of in-furrow product along two or more horizontal planes separated by layers of soil of selective thickness, for example, for in-furrow product delivery to seed masses at different stages of growth.

[0057] Similarly, the use of two or more sets of spouts allows for the delivery of in-furrow product to the planted seed mass in-furrow in two or three dimensions along the combinations of product placement shown in the figures.

Claims

1. A method of operating a seed planter and dispensing in-row product to a planted seed piece in a row, comprising: rolling an inflated press wheel over the planted seed piece, wherein the press wheel has a pressure measuring instrument mounted thereto; causing the instrument to generate a pressure signature by rolling over the planted seed piece with the press wheel; using a controller, analyzing the pressure signature and determining a characteristic of the planted seed piece from the step of analyzing; dispensing in-row product to the planted seed piece according to the characteristic.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure signature has a period and an amplitude, and the period and amplitude are interpreted to determine the characteristic.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure signature has a hyperbolic wave entry segment, and the entry segment is interpreted to determine a size of the planted seed piece.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure signature has a hyperbolic entry segment and an exit segment, an elliptical cap between the entry segment and the exit segment, a wave crest, a crest width, a period, an amplitude, a half height, and a width at the half height, and the base width, the crest width, and the width at the half height are interpreted to determine a size and a shape of the planted seed piece.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of determining a characteristic of the planted seed piece occurs a distance ahead of the step of dispensing in-row product to the planted seed piece.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the planted seed piece is determined from a group consisting of: a size of the planted seed piece, a shape of the planted seed piece, a double drop planted seed piece, a no-drop row space, and a centroid of the planted seed piece.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of dispensing in-row product is performed at different dispensing rates according to the characteristic.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of dispensing in-row product is interrupted over the no-drop row space.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of dispensing in-row product dispenses a strip of in-row product ahead of the planted seed piece and a strip of in-row product on an exit side of the planted seed piece, and the strip of in-row product ahead of the planted seed piece is a mirror image of the strip of in-row product on the exit side of the planted seed piece.

10. A method of operating a seed planter and dispensing in-row product to a planted seed piece in a row, comprising: rolling an inflated press wheel over the planted seed piece, wherein the press wheel has a pressure measuring instrument mounted thereto; causing the instrument to generate a pressure signature by rolling over the planted seed piece with the press wheel; using a controller, analyzing the pressure signature and determining a characteristic of the planted seed piece from the step of analyzing; distributing in-row product to the planting mass in the furrow in accordance with the characteristic of the planting mass.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of distributing in-row product causes a strip of in-row product to be distributed from an incoming side of the seed mass, over the seed mass, and over an exiting side of the seed mass.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of rolling is performed to form a flat planting surface along the bottom of the furrow, wherein the planting surface has a reduced liquid permeability.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the planting surface partially covers the planting mass.

14. A method of operating a seed planter and distributing in-row product to a planting mass in a furrow, comprising: rolling an inflated press wheel over the planting mass, the inflated press wheel having a pressure measuring instrument mounted thereto; causing the instrument to generate a pressure signature by rolling over the planting mass with the press wheel; analyzing a portion of the pressure signature from the press wheel using an artificial intelligence algorithm and a controller, and determining a characteristic of the planting mass from the step of analyzing; distributing in-row product to the planting mass in accordance with the characteristic of the planting mass.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the in-row product is a granular in-row product.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the in-row product is a liquid in-row product.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the portion of the pressure signature is a damped wave ingress of the pressure signature.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a response time between the step of causing the inflated press wheel to generate a pressure signature and the step of distributing in-row product to the planting mass is 35 to 90 milliseconds.

19. A method of operating a seed planter as claimed in claim 14, comprising the steps of: identifying a centroid of the planting mass from the step of analyzing the pressure signature, and distributing in-row product to the planting mass in a symmetric placement and a symmetric volume about the centroid.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the step of rolling is performed to form a flat planting surface having a reduced liquid permeability along the bottom of the furrow, and the in-row product is distributed on the planting surface.

21. A method for selectively delivering in-row product to a planting mass in a furrow using a seed planter in a 3-dimensional placement mode, wherein the seed planter has an inflated press wheel with a pressure measuring instrument mounted thereto and a set of closing discs mounted behind the press wheel, and an in-row distribution nozzle is mounted to the planter between the press wheel and the closing discs, the method comprising the steps of: - rolling the inflated press wheel over the planting seed piece and causing the implement to generate a pressure signature by the press wheel rolling over the planting seed piece; - using a controller, analyzing the pressure signature and - determining from the analyzing step a characteristic and a centroid of the planting seed piece; - using the closing disc, adding a soil layer over the planting seed piece, and - dispensing the in-row product to the planting seed piece according to the characteristic, in a horizontal plane, in a symmetric placement about the centroid over the soil layer.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of adding a soil layer includes the step of adjusting a thickness of the soil layer.

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