Method for influencing future soil temperature in an asparagus field

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention is based on a method according to the class of the independent claim.

[0002] In asparagus cultivation, the use of film placed on the asparagus beds can be used to achieve an earlier harvest time and to specifically influence the temperature distribution within the asparagus beds. The film can be oriented with a black side facing the sun to absorb a high degree of solar radiation. Similarly, the film can be oriented with a white side facing the sun to reflect a high degree of solar radiation while also protecting the asparagus beds from wind.

[0003] Methods for predicting ridge temperatures are already known from the article: Graefe et al.: "Computer-aided prediction of ridge temperatures and asparagus yields", Gemüse: Das Magazin für den professioneller Gemüseanbau, Dt. Landwirtschaftsverlag, Ulmer, DE Vol. 45, Mr. 4 1, April 2009, pages 44 - 46 and Unknown: "More information for farmers: Bosch sensor solution for asparagus cultivation receives award", Internet Citation, September 9, 2015, found on the Internet: URL:https: / / www.deepfield-robotics.com / News-Detail 150909.html. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] A method for influencing a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed is presented, the method being defined by the steps of claim 1.

[0005] This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control unit.

[0006] An asparagus bed is an earth embankment that is built over a row of asparagus plants to produce long, pale, or nearly colorless shoots. The temperature in the asparagus bed is significantly influenced by environmental influences. Weather forecast information includes, for example, information about a geographical and temporal forecast of these environmental influences for a future observation period. For example, the weather forecast information includes a temperature forecast, a wind forecast (e.g., strength and direction), a sunshine hour forecast, and / or a precipitation forecast. These variables can be processed or correlated in the temperature model of the asparagus bed.The temperature model can also consist of temperature measurements taken at previous points in time or be created using these temperature measurements taken at previous points in time. To establish a baseline for the expected soil temperature, a current soil temperature and / or a history of the soil temperature in the asparagus bed is used.

[0007] The soil temperature value is determined using a position value representing a film orientation or a position of the film on the asparagus bed. A film can generally be understood as a flat, flexible or bendable covering element with which the asparagus bed can be protected from environmental influences. For example, the film can be made of a plastic material. The asparagus bed can be covered with a plastic film that is, for example, white on a first side and black on a second, opposite side. A white film or a black film can also be used. The film orientation can be understood as which side or which color of the film is facing the sun. The orientation of the film influences, for example, the achievable temperature and / or the temperature development in the asparagus bed.A layer of film can be understood as an orientation or a degree of coverage of the film over an area of ​​the asparagus bed to be covered.

[0008] A first soil temperature value or soil temperature profile is determined for an exposed, dark, particularly black, side of the film. A second soil temperature value or profile is determined for an exposed, light, particularly white, side of the film. Furthermore, at least a third soil temperature value or profile is determined for an asparagus bed without a film. The temperature model of the asparagus bed can output results for three different conditions. Based on the three different expected soil temperature values ​​or profiles, the correct film orientation can be selected for the coming day or the future covered by the weather forecast information.

[0009] The measures listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous further developments and improvements of the method specified in the independent claim.

[0010] The method can include a step of providing a recommended value if the associated soil temperature value is lower than a threshold value or activating an alarm function. The recommended value can represent a recommended position and / or orientation of a film on the asparagus bed. A threshold value can represent a critical temperature for the growth of the asparagus plants. At a temperature above the threshold value, damage to the asparagus plants can occur. By issuing a recommendation regarding the orientation and / or position of the film, harvest losses can be avoided by preventing damage to the asparagus plants.

[0011] An expected maximum soil temperature can be determined as the soil temperature value. By limiting the model to a single temperature value, the temperature model can be evaluated with minimal computing resources. Ultimately, only the maximum value is relevant for assessing damage.

[0012] An expected soil temperature profile can be determined using a plurality of soil temperature values ​​to predict the future soil temperature in an asparagus bed. A soil temperature profile can be interpolated between the plurality of soil temperatures as reference points. Using the soil temperature profile, the film orientation or position can be changed throughout the day, for example, to achieve a rapid increase in soil temperature in the morning using black film or the black side and to switch to white film or the white side later in the day to limit the soil temperature.

[0013] At least one additional temperature value recorded in the asparagus bed can be read in. The temperature value and the additional temperature value can represent temperatures at different measurement depths in the asparagus bed. A further expected soil temperature value can be determined using the temperature model, the additional temperature value, and the weather information. By modeling multiple temperature values, a more accurate temperature forecast can be made.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the approach presented here, at least one other temperature value recorded in the asparagus bed can be read in during the reading step, wherein the temperature value and the other temperature value represent temperatures at different times in the asparagus bed, and in the determining step, the expected soil temperature value is determined using the temperature model, the temperature value, the other temperature value, and the weather information. Such an embodiment of the approach presented here offers the advantage of a particularly precise determination of the expected soil temperature value, since the previous temporal development of the soil temperature can be taken into account.

[0015] The approach presented here further creates an information system designed to carry out, control, or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. This embodiment of the invention in the form of an information system also allows the problem underlying the invention to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0016] For this purpose, the information system can have at least one computing unit for processing signals or data, at least one memory unit for storing signals or data, at least one interface to a sensor or an actuator for reading sensor signals from the sensor or for outputting control signals to the actuator, and / or at least one communication interface for reading or outputting data embedded in a communication protocol. The computing unit can be, for example, a signal processor, a microcontroller, or the like, wherein the memory unit can be a flash memory, an EPROM, or a magnetic storage unit.The communication interface can be designed to read in or output data wirelessly and / or wired, wherein a communication interface that can read in or output wired data can read this data, for example, electrically or optically from a corresponding data transmission line or output it to a corresponding data transmission line.

[0017] In this context, an information system can be understood as an electrical device that processes sensor signals and outputs control and / or data signals depending on them. The information system can have an interface that can be implemented in hardware and / or software. In a hardware implementation, the interfaces can, for example, be part of a so-called system ASIC, which contains a wide variety of functions of the information system. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be separate integrated circuits or to consist at least partially of discrete components. In a software implementation, the interfaces can be software modules that are present, for example, on a microcontroller alongside other software modules.

[0018] The information system can be used particularly effectively in agriculture, particularly in vegetable cultivation, and especially in the sub-sector of asparagus cultivation. The information system, which provides a farmer with information about changes to be made to their asparagus bed, can thus achieve an improved harvest using simple technical tools. The information system can be installed directly in the field or attached to the farm, and can receive the data to be read in either wired or wirelessly.

[0019] Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and is used to carry out, implement and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described above, in particular when the program product or program is executed on a computer or a device.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a representation of an information system for predicting a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 a representation of a temperature sensor device in an asparagus bed according to an embodiment; Fig. 3 a block diagram of an information system for predicting a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed according to an embodiment; Fig. 4 a representation of predicted ground temperatures according to an embodiment; and Fig. 5 a flowchart of a method for predicting a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed according to an embodiment.

[0021] In the following description of advantageous embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and having a similar effect, whereby a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a representation of an information system 100 for predicting a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed 102 according to an exemplary embodiment. A temperature sensor device 104 is inserted into the asparagus bed 102. The temperature sensor device 104 is designed to measure a soil temperature. For this purpose, the temperature sensor device 104 has a mandrel 106 for insertion into the asparagus bed 102. At least one temperature sensor 108 is arranged on the mandrel 106. When the mandrel 106 is inserted into the asparagus bed 102, the temperature sensor 108 is located at a measuring depth below a surface of the asparagus bed 102. The temperature sensor device 104 detects the soil temperature of the asparagus bed 102. The temperature sensor 108 represents the soil temperature in a temperature value 110. The temperature sensor 108 is connected to a communication device 112 of the temperature sensor device 104.The communication device 112 and the temperature sensor 108 are supplied with electrical energy by a battery 114. The communication device 112 of the temperature sensor device 104 is arranged above the surface of the asparagus bed 102. The communication device 112 is configured to establish a wireless communication 116 with a further communication device 112 connected to the information system 100. The temperature value 110 is transmitted from the communication device 112 to the further communication device 112 using a communication protocol. The further communication device 112 provides the temperature value 110 to the information system 100. Here, the further communication device 112 further provides weather forecast information 118 to the information system 100.

[0023] The information system 100 is configured to determine at least one expected soil temperature value 120 using the temperature value 110, the weather forecast information 118, and a temperature model of the asparagus bed 102. For example, an expected maximum value of the soil temperature can be determined.

[0024] The expected soil temperature value 120 is transmitted to a mobile device 122 via another communication device 112 and another wireless communication 116. On the mobile device 122, the expected soil temperature value 120 is displayed as a soil temperature forecast 124. Depending on the soil temperature forecast 124, a recommendation can be provided as to which side of a covering film (not shown here) of the asparagus bed 102 should be oriented toward the sun.

[0025] Fig. 2 shows a representation of a temperature sensor device 104 in an asparagus bed 102 according to an embodiment. The temperature sensor device 104 essentially corresponds to the temperature sensor device in Fig. 1 In contrast, the temperature sensor device 104 has three soil temperature sensors 108 and one surface temperature sensor 200. The surface temperature sensor 200 is located on the surface of the asparagus bed 102, but still within the asparagus bed 102. The soil temperature sensors 108 are arranged at different depths within the asparagus bed 102. A first soil temperature sensor 108 T1 is arranged close to the surface of the asparagus bed 102. It is arranged, for example, at a depth of "zero" cm in the soil of the asparagus bed 102. However, it can be located beneath the film, and the temperature value it provides will then sometimes deviate considerably from the ambient air temperature.

[0026] A second soil temperature sensor 108 T2 is located substantially centrally in the asparagus bed 102. A third soil temperature sensor 108 T3 is located at a base of the asparagus bed 102. Each of the three soil temperature sensors 108 provides a temperature value, which is sent to the information system via the communication device (not shown). The surface temperature sensor 200 also provides a temperature value, which is sent to the information system via the communication device.

[0027] In other words, in Fig. 2 A temperature measurement in the asparagus bed 102 using four sensors T0 to T3 is shown. The temperature in the asparagus bed 102 is measured at various locations 108 of varying depths. Using a temperature model that takes solar radiation, convection, radiation, wind influence, and heat conduction in the asparagus bed 102 into account, a simulation of the temperatures at the measuring locations 108 in the asparagus bed 102 is carried out, taking into account the weather forecast for the next day. The user interface displays the calculated temperature profile in the asparagus bed as a function of the film layer and compares the critical temperatures. Film layers that exceed or fall below critical temperatures are marked as problematic.

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an information system 100 for predicting a future soil temperature 120 in an asparagus bed according to an embodiment. The information system 100 essentially corresponds to the information system in Fig. 1 The information system 100 has an interface 300 for reading the temperature value 110 and the weather forecast information 118. The information system 100 has a determination device 302, in which the expected ground temperature value 120 is determined using the temperature value 110 and the weather forecast information 118, as well as a ground temperature model 304. The expected ground temperature value 120 is provided via a provision interface 306.

[0029] Fig. 4 shows a representation of predicted ground temperatures 400 according to an embodiment. The ground temperature values ​​400 are predicted by an information system, such as that shown in Figures 1 and 3. The ground temperature values ​​400 are shown in a time-temperature diagram with time t plotted on its abscissa and temperature T plotted on its ordinate. Time t is plotted over the course of an upcoming day from morning to evening. The ground temperature values ​​400 represent predictions for different film states over the course of the day. All ground temperature values ​​400 are low in the morning and rise until midday. A first ground temperature value 402 represents the expected ground temperature without film, a second ground temperature value 404 represents the expected ground temperature with a white film, and a third ground temperature value 406 represents the expected ground temperature with a black film.

[0030] For the first soil temperature value 402 without a foil, a maximum temperature is forecast at midday. Accordingly, the soil temperature will fall back to a baseline value in the afternoon. For the second soil temperature value 404 with a white foil, a maximum temperature is also forecast at midday. In the afternoon, the soil temperature will fall but, according to the forecast, will not reach the baseline value. For the third soil temperature value 406 with a black foil, a rise in the soil temperature is forecast until midday. A similarly high temperature level is expected to remain until the evening.

[0031] Additionally, a critical temperature 408 Tcrit is shown in the diagram. The first soil temperature value 402 and the second soil temperature value 404 are not expected to reach this critical temperature 408. The third soil temperature value 406 is expected to exceed the critical temperature 408. The third soil temperature value 406 is expected to remain above the critical temperature 408 until the evening. The critical temperature 408 represents, for example, a temperature at which plants or plant parts in the soil can be damaged.

[0032] Furthermore, the temperature curve predictions for individual depths can be displayed. It is also possible to depict the probability of error in the forecast, for example, using error bars or uncertainty corridors. In general, the forecast uncertainty increases with the forecast horizon.

[0033] In one embodiment, a recommendation is issued via the mobile device to use the film with the white side facing up, since the white film is expected to achieve the most favorable growth conditions the following day.

[0034] A prediction 400 of the temperature trend in the asparagus bed is presented based on the temperature measurement and the weather forecast.

[0035] In Fig. 4 is a temperature forecast 400 for a measuring point at one of the Fig. 2 The values ​​of the sensors shown (Sensor Ti) are shown as a function of the film position. Prediction 406 indicates that the critical temperature 408 is exceeded if the black side of the film is used.

[0036] If the temperature in the asparagus bed is within an optimal range, optimal growing conditions for asparagus cultivation can be achieved. The temperature should not exceed a critical temperature to avoid damaging the plant, but should be high enough to allow optimal growth. Furthermore, temperature differences between different soil layers should not exceed certain limits.

[0037] A decision regarding the film layer for the following day can be made using the evening temperature in the asparagus bed. The approach presented here provides technical support for this decision.

[0038] The model-based temperature forecast 400°C in the asparagus bed allows the farmer to make an informed decision regarding the optimal film position. The decision is left to the farmer, who receives the best possible support.

[0039] Another conceivable embodiment of the approach presented here is a sensor lance as a temperature sensor carrier, typically equipped with several sensors that measure the temperatures at defined depths. In this case, data from the temperature sensors can be recorded in a microcontroller that is powered, for example, by a battery, an accumulator or solar power. The data from the temperature sensors can then be transmitted to a cloud (for example to a server) or at least to a gateway in the field, whereby the gateway can then also carry out the transmission to the cloud. The forecast can then be calculated in the cloud, i.e. on the server (or on the microcontroller itself), and transmitted to the farmer's end device. There, the forecast can then be visualized orInteraction with the benefit (prediction when using dark / black foil, light / white foil, ...).

[0040] It is also conceivable that the model could be designed to be self-learning and improve over time (e.g., by comparing measurements with predicted values). This would reduce the prediction error over time. Additionally or alternatively, the display of the data could be done on an app on a smartphone, tablet, or similar device, and the calculation or determination of the expected ground temperature value could be done in the cloud.

[0041] Fig. 5shows a flowchart of a method 500 for predicting a future soil temperature in an asparagus bed according to an exemplary embodiment. The method 500 comprises a reading step 502 and a determining step 504. In reading step 502, a soil temperature value that has been recorded in the asparagus bed is read in. Furthermore, in reading step 502, weather forecast information is read in. In determining step 504, an expected soil temperature value is determined using a temperature model of the asparagus bed, the temperature value and / or a temporal progression of the temperature value, and the weather forecast information.

[0042] If an embodiment includes an "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, this should be read as meaning that the embodiment according to one embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment has either only the first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

1. Method (500) for influencing a future soil temperature in an asparagus dam (102), wherein the method (500) comprises the following steps: reading in (502) at least one temperature value (110) captured in the asparagus dam (102) and weather forecast information (118); and determining (504) an expected soil temperature value (120) using a temperature model (304) of the asparagus dam (102), the temperature value (110) and / or a temporal profile of the temperature value (110) and the weather forecast information (118) in order to predict the future soil temperature in an asparagus dam (102), wherein, in the step (504) of determining, the soil temperature value (110) is furthermore determined using a position value representing a film orientation or a position of the film on the asparagus dam (102), wherein, in the step (504) of determining, a first soil temperature value (120) is determined for an exposed dark, in particular black, film side, a second soil temperature value (120) for an exposed bright, in particular white, film side and / or at least a third soil temperature value (120) for a filmless asparagus dam (102), and selecting the correct film orientation or position of the film in order to achieve a future temperature in the asparagus dam in an optimum range for optimum growth conditions in the cultivation of asparagus.

2. Method (500) according to Claim 1, comprising a step of providing a recommended value, this being provided if the associated soil temperature value (120) is less than a threshold value (408), wherein the recommended value represents a position to be recommended and / or orientation of a film on the asparagus dam (102).

3. Method (500) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein, in the step (404) of determining, an expected maximum value of the soil temperature is determined as soil temperature value (120).

4. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the step (504) of determining, an expected soil temperature profile (400) is determined using a plurality of soil temperature values (120) in order to predict the future soil temperature in an asparagus dam (102).

5. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, in the step (502) of reading in, at least one further temperature value captured in the asparagus dam (102) is read in, wherein the temperature value and the further temperature value represent temperatures at different measurement depths in the asparagus dam (102), and, in the step of determining (504), a further expected soil temperature value is determined using the temperature model (304), the further temperature value and the weather information (118).

6. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, in the step (502) of reading in, at least one other temperature value captured in the asparagus dam (102) is read in, wherein the temperature value and the other temperature value represent temperatures at different times in the asparagus dam (102), and, in the step of determining (504), the expected soil temperature value is determined using the temperature model (304), the temperature value, the other temperature value and the weather information (118).