Crop cultivation improvement support system

Abstract

This invention provides a crop cultivation improvement support system that allows workers to easily recognize the causes affecting crop quality. [Solution] The present invention includes at least one terminal device capable of displaying improvement information, which includes a plurality of improvement items related to improving the growing environment of crops in a field where crops are grown. The terminal device displays, as improvement information, the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items is likely to affect the quality of the crop, in a display manner corresponding to that degree.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to crop cultivation improvement support for providing support for improving the quality of crops such as rice.

Background Art

[0002] For example, when harvesting crops such as rice, the harvested crops contain a mixture of good-quality and defective products. On this premise, conventionally, sorting devices for sorting the harvested crops (for example, rice) into good-quality and defective products have been provided, and furthermore, some of these sorting devices can determine the state (quality) of the sorted defective products. For example, a sorting device for sorting rice determines which quality category the defective rice belongs to, such as rice damaged by pests such as stink bugs, scorched rice, green immature grains, paddy rice, and milky white grains (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when the incidence rate of defective products of crops increases, the quantity of valuable crops (good-quality products) that can be distributed in the market decreases. Therefore, crop producers try to identify and improve the causes of defective products.

[0005] However, the cause of a crop becoming defective may be a combination of one or more factors. That is, the cause of a crop becoming defective depends on the environment (cultivation environment) that affects the growth of the crop. The cultivation environment has multiple details such as temperature, climate, weather, and planting conditions. Depending on the state (quality) of the crop defect, the cause of the crop becoming defective may be one or a combination of multiple details, and it is difficult to identify the cause of the crop defect.

[0006] Furthermore, even with the same poor condition (quality), the cause may differ, and identifying (or even guessing) the cause affecting crop quality (the reason why crops are poor) is time-consuming and complicated. As a result, arriving at methods (strategies) to improve crop quality becomes extremely difficult. In other words, if the cause of crop poorness is known, strategies for improving crop quality can be arrived at based on past performance and research results, but because it is difficult to identify the cause of crop poorness, it is difficult to find strategies to improve quality.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a crop cultivation improvement support system that allows workers to easily recognize the causes affecting crop quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The crop cultivation improvement support system of the present invention includes at least one terminal device capable of displaying improvement information including a plurality of improvement items relating to the improvement of the crop cultivation environment in a field where crops are grown, wherein the terminal device displays the degree to which each of the plurality of improvement items is likely to affect the quality of the crop, in a display manner corresponding to that degree. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, workers can easily recognize the causes affecting crop quality. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a crop cultivation improvement support system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the control device located in the cloud of the crop cultivation improvement support system according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a map displayed on the monitor of a terminal device incorporated into the crop cultivation improvement support system according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of the crop growth improvement support system according to the same embodiment, and is a schematic overall configuration diagram that includes a description of the information transmitted from the equipment (rice transplanter, water management device, tractor, multicopter, combine harvester, sorting device) incorporated into the crop growth improvement support system to the control device. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a rice center where a sorting device incorporated into the product growth improvement support system according to the same embodiment is installed. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) displayed on the monitor of a terminal device incorporated into the crop growth improvement support system according to the same embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a modified display of the improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) as shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of improvement suggestion information displayed on the monitor of a terminal device incorporated into the crop cultivation improvement support system according to the same embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) displayed on the monitor of a terminal device incorporated into a crop cultivation improvement support system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing a modified display of the improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) as shown in Figure 9. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) displayed on the monitor of a terminal device incorporated into a crop growth improvement support system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing a modified display of the improvement information (improvement item confirmation image) as shown in Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following describes a crop cultivation improvement support system according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. While the crop cultivation improvement support system is applicable to all crops grown (cultivated) in a field, this embodiment specifically targets rice grown (cultivated) in a paddy field. Accordingly, in the following description, "crop" refers to rice or rice plants. However, depending on the situation, the term "crop" may also refer to rice with hulls or brown rice.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 includes at least one terminal device 2 capable of displaying improvement information 7 (see Figure 6) which includes multiple improvement items A to H related to improving the crop cultivation environment in fields Fa to Fn where crops are cultivated. Although Figure 1 shows one terminal device 2, it may include two or more terminal devices 2. The crop cultivation improvement support system 1 includes a control device 3 that derives the degree to which improvement items A to H are likely to affect crop quality. That is, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 includes a control device 3 that derives the degree of possibility of improvement in improvement items A to H. The crop cultivation improvement support system 1 includes devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e that provide the control device 3 with information related to the environment in which crops are cultivated (hereinafter referred to as cultivation environment information), which is necessary for the control device 3 to derive the degree to which it is likely to affect crop quality (degree of possibility of improvement in improvement items A to H).

[0013] As described above, the crop growth improvement support system 1 of this embodiment targets paddy fields as fields Fa to Fn and rice, a cereal, as the crop. Accordingly, the crop growth improvement support system 1 provides the control device 3 with growing environment information regarding factors that affect crop growth (equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e) used in the process of growing or harvesting rice. As the devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e to be used, it includes a rice transplanter 4a, a tractor 4b, a multicopter 4c, a combine 4d, and water management devices 4e, 4e for performing water management in paddy fields. Further, the crop growth improvement support system 1 includes a sorting device 5d that detects light transmitted through or reflected by a crop and sorts (separates) at least two or more harvested crops based on the detected light.

[0014] In the crop growth improvement support system 1, the terminal device 2, the control device 3, the devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e used for crop growth, and the sorting device 5d are connected to be mutually communicable via the Internet line 6.

[0015] These configurations will be described in more detail. The terminal device 2 is operated by a producer who produces crops in the fields Fa to Fn. That is, the terminal device 2 is installed, for example, at a location where the producer can use it, such as the producer's home, office, workplace, etc.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the terminal device 2 is a personal computer and includes a terminal main body 20 equipped with a CPU, etc., and a monitor 21 that projects a video (image) based on an instruction from the terminal main body 20. The terminal device 2 includes input devices 22, 23 connected to the terminal main body 20. In the present embodiment, the input devices 22, 23 are a keyboard 22 and a mouse 23.

[0017] The terminal device 2 (terminal main body 20) is connected to the Internet line 6 by wire or wirelessly. In the terminal device 2 of the present embodiment, the terminal main body 20 is communicable with a cloud C connected via the Internet line 6. That is, the terminal main body 20 (terminal device 2) has a browser and can remotely operate (give a remote instruction) to the cloud C connected to the Internet line 6 through the browser by operating the input devices 22, 23 (keyboard 22, mouse 23). Further, the terminal device 2 can receive information from the cloud C and display the received information from the cloud C on the monitor 21 by the operation of the browser.

[0018] The control device 3 constitutes a cloud C connected to the internet line 6. In other words, the cloud C includes the control device 3. Accordingly, the control device 3 can communicate with terminal devices 2, equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and sorting device 5d via the internet line 6. Specifically, the control device 3 sends and receives necessary information to terminal devices 2, obtains information on crop cultivation from equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e for crop cultivation, and obtains information on crop quality from sorting device 5d.

[0019] More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the control device 3 comprises a calculation control unit 30, a storage unit 31 that stores information used in the processing of the calculation control unit 30, a receiving unit 32 that connects the calculation control unit 30 to the internet line 6 and receives information from the outside via the internet line 6 and inputs it to the calculation control unit 30, and a transmitting unit 33 that connects the calculation control unit 30 to the internet line 6 and outputs information from the calculation control unit 30 to external terminal devices 2 and equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e via the internet line 6.

[0020] The arithmetic control unit 30 is a CPU (MPU) and includes an arithmetic unit 30a and a control unit 30b. In the control device 3 according to this embodiment, the storage unit 31 includes a first storage unit 31a that temporarily or short-term stores information used for processing by the arithmetic control unit 30 (arithmetic unit 30a and control unit 30b), and a second storage unit 31b that long-term stores information used for processing by the arithmetic control unit 30 (arithmetic unit 30a and control unit 30b). The first storage unit 31a is a so-called memory, and the second storage unit 31b is a storage device such as a hard disk or an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0021] Map data is stored in the second storage unit 31b. Specifically, map data including multiple fields Fa to Fn is stored in the second storage unit 31b. Accordingly, the control device 3 is configured to transmit the map data stored in the second storage unit 31b to the terminal device 2 via the internet line 6, and displays a map MP based on the map data on the monitor 21 of the terminal device 2, as shown in Figure 3. The terminal device 2 can select one or more fields Fa to FnB from among the multiple fields Fa to Fn included in the map MP displayed on the monitor 21.

[0022] In this embodiment, with the map MP displayed on the monitor 21 of the terminal device 2, the user selects a desired field Fa~FnB from among the multiple fields Fa~Fn included in the displayed map MP by aligning the pointer 23a with it (clicking in the case of a mouse 23). This selects the field Fa~FnB, and the terminal device 2 transmits designation information specifying the selected field Fa~Fn to the control device 3. Consequently, the map data includes specific information assigned to each of the multiple fields Fa~Fn included in the map MP. This specific information is unique to each field Fa~Fn, such as a serial number. The specific information only needs to be able to identify the field Fa~Fn; in addition to the serial number, it may be the location information (latitude and longitude) of each field Fa~Fn, or a combination of the serial number and location information.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the control device 3 acquires necessary information from the equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e used for crop cultivation and stores the acquired information in the second storage unit 31b. In other words, the control device 3 stores the information acquired from the equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e used for crop cultivation as cultivation environment information in the second storage unit 31b. In this embodiment, the information acquired from the equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e used for crop cultivation also includes information related to crop quality (hereinafter referred to as crop quality information).

[0024] In the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, the second storage unit 31b of the control device 3 also stores past information acquired as necessary information (cultivation environment information) from the equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4e used for crop cultivation. Furthermore, necessary information that cannot be obtained from the water management device 4e, rice transplanter 4a, combine harvester 4d, tractor 4b (or multicopter 4c), and sorting device 5d (for example, weather, climate, soil type, etc.) is input by the producer using the input devices 22 and 23 of the terminal device 2, stored in the second storage unit 31b, and this information is also accumulated.

[0025] Specifically, the information stored in the second storage unit 31b includes information transmitted from the water management device 4e, the rice transplanter 4a, the combine harvester 4d, the tractor 4b (or the multicopter 4c), and the sorting device 5d.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and sorting device 5d included in (integrated into) the crop growth improvement support system 1 according to this embodiment are all equipped with communication devices 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 50d that can connect to the internet line 6 and transmit information to the cloud C (control device 3).

[0027] The rice transplanter 4a is equipped with a GPS device 41a (see Figure 1). The GPS device 41a of the rice transplanter 4a acquires location information (location information during rice transplanting) of the fields Fa to Fn that are the target of rice transplanting. The rice transplanter 4a is also equipped with a data collection device 42a (see Figure 1). The data collection device 42a of the rice transplanter 4a acquires agricultural performance data such as spacing between plants, spacing between rows, transplanting (direct seeding), engine speed, vehicle speed, etc., when rice transplanting is performed as an agricultural operation. The rice transplanter 4a transmits the crop variety (crop name) and the location information acquired by the GPS device 41a as general information from the communication device 40a to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6.

[0028] Furthermore, the rice transplanter 4a transmits information (data) regarding the growing environment, including the date and time of planting, spacing between plants, spacing between rows, transplanting (direct seeding), engine speed, and vehicle speed, from the communication device 40a to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6. Engine speed and vehicle speed are factors that affect the planting condition and damage to the rice plants during planting; therefore, in this embodiment, engine speed and vehicle speed are included as growing environment information. The growing environment information and general information acquired by the data collection device 42a of the rice transplanter 4a may be automatically input as information obtained from sensors, etc., or may be manually input by the operator in advance.

[0029] The water management devices 4e,4e independently manage the water supply for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 1, water management devices 4e,4e are installed for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn. The water management devices 4e,4e are installed on both the water supply side and the drainage side for fields Fa to Fn. That is, when supplying water to fields Fa to Fn, the water management device 4e on the drainage side is shut off, and water is supplied from the water management device 4e on the water supply side. When the water level reaches a predetermined level, the water supply from the water management device 4e on the water supply side is stopped.

[0030] In contrast, when draining water from fields Fa to Fn, the water shut-off on the drainage side water management device 4e is released, allowing water to be released from fields Fa to Fn. This maintains the water level in fields Fa to Fn at a predetermined level. Accordingly, the water management devices 4e, 4e are configured to measure the water level in fields Fa to Fn. The water management devices 4e, 4e can also measure the water temperature in fields Fa to Fn. Furthermore, the water management devices 4e, 4e are assigned addresses (location information) to identify the fields Fa to Fn from which water is supplied and drained.

[0031] Specifically, since the water management devices 4e,4e are placed in each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn, they are equipped with power-generating solar panels 41e and are powered by the power generated by the solar panels 41e. In addition, the water management devices 4e,4e are equipped with a timing device (not shown) for timing the date and time, a water level sensor S1 for measuring (acquiring) the water level in fields Fa to Fn (paddy fields), and a water temperature sensor S2 for measuring (acquiring) the water temperature in fields Fa to Fn. As shown in Figure 4, the water management devices 4e,4e transmit location information related to addresses as general information from the communication device 40e to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6. Furthermore, the water management devices 4e, 4e transmit information related to the environment that affects crop growth (hereinafter referred to as "growing environment information"), such as water level information obtained by the water level sensor S1 and water temperature information obtained by the water temperature sensor S2, from the communication device 40e to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6. The water level information includes the water level of fields Fa to Fn measured by the water level sensor S1 and the measurement date and time, and the water temperature information includes the water temperature of fields Fa to Fn measured by the water temperature sensor S2 and the measurement date and time.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a tractor 4b or a multicopter 4c is used for fertilization and pesticide application. Both the tractor 4b and the multicopter 4c are equipped with GPS devices 41b and 41c (see Figure 4). The GPS devices 41b and 41c of the tractor 4b and the multicopter 4c acquire location information (location information during fertilization or pesticide application) of the target fields Fa to Fn. Both the tractor 4b and the multicopter 4c are equipped with data acquisition devices 42b and 42c (see Figure 1). The data acquisition devices 42b and 42c acquire the amount of fertilizer applied to the target fields Fa to Fn and the amount of pesticide applied to the target fields Fa to Fn. The tractor 4b and the multicopter 4c acquire information (data) related to fertilization and pesticide application. The tractor 4b or multicopter 4c transmits the location information acquired by the GPS devices 41b and 41c as general information to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6 from the communication devices 40b and 40c. In addition, the tractor 4b and multicopter 4c transmit the cultivation environment information along with the general information. As a report, information regarding fertilization or pesticide application is transmitted from the communication device 40b (40c) to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6. The information regarding fertilization includes the type of fertilizer (fertilizer name), the amount applied, and the date and time of fertilization. The information regarding pesticide application includes the type of pesticide (pesticide name), the amount applied, and the date and time of pesticide application. The information regarding the growing environment may be automatically entered as information obtained from sensors, etc., or it may be manually entered in advance by the operator.

[0033] The combine harvester 4d is equipped with a GPS device 41d (see Figure 1). The GPS device 41d of the combine harvester 4d acquires location information (location information during rice harvesting) of fields Fa to Fn that are the target of rice harvesting. The combine harvester 4d is equipped with a measuring device 42d (see Figure 1). The measuring device 42d of the combine harvester 4d measures the moisture content, protein content, sugar content, and yield of the harvested crop (rice). The combine harvester 4d transmits information regarding the rice harvest date and location information acquired by the GPS device 41d as general information from communication devices 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, and 50d to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6. In addition, the combine harvester 4d transmits, along with general information, crop quality information that serves as an indicator of crop quality, such as the moisture content of rice, the protein content of rice, the sugar content of rice, and the yield (data) measured by the measuring device 42d, from the communication device 40d to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6.

[0034] The sorting device 5d detects light transmitted through or reflected from the crop. That is, the sorting device 5d of this embodiment is equipped with a sensor (not shown) that detects light transmitted through or reflected from the crop. Here, "detection of light" means detecting the physical quantity of light (wavelength, light quantity, luminous flux, luminous intensity, illuminance, etc.) transmitted through or reflected from the target object, the crop, and also includes detecting the color (hue, achromatic (black and white)), shadow, brightness, and shade derived based on the detected physical quantity of light (e.g., wavelength). In this embodiment, the sorting device 5d detects the wavelength and light quantity of light, which are physical quantities of light, and detects (identifies) the shade of color (shade of achromatic (black and white) in this embodiment) based on these. Furthermore, the sorting device 5d of this embodiment determines the shape and appearance (presence or absence of coloring, etc.) of the crop based on the sensor's detection result (identification result) and sorts the harvested crop into two or more types. That is, the sorting device 5d of this embodiment sorts the crop into good products and defective products based on the sensor's detection result. As mentioned above, this type of sorting device 5d includes those that detect colorless (black and white) and those that detect color, but these are generally collectively referred to as "color sorting devices." As shown in Figure 5, the sorting device 5d is installed in a rice center 5 owned by an organization or an individual. Specifically, the rice center 5 is a processing facility that processes harvested rice into brown rice, and is equipped with a dryer 5a for drying rice with hulls, a huller 5b for removing hulls from the rice dried in the dryer 5a, a grain sorter 5c for removing stones and broken rice mixed in with the hulled rice (brown rice), a sorting device 5d for removing defective rice (brown rice), and a weighing machine 5e for weighing and bagging the sorted rice (brown rice).

[0035] In this embodiment, the sorting device 5d includes a terminal device 2a that can be connected to a communication line (Internet line 6). The terminal device 2a of the sorting device 5d has the same functions and configuration as other terminal devices 2 (personal computers) connected to the Internet line 6. Accordingly, the terminal device 2 of the sorting device 5d has a browser and includes a monitor 21a that displays information via the browser. In other words, the sorting device 5d incorporates a personal computer as a terminal device 2a, which includes a terminal body 20a and a monitor 21a. The terminal device 2a of the sorting device 5d also has input devices 22, 23 (keyboard 22, mouse 23), but these are omitted from the illustration here.

[0036] The sorting device 5d determines the quality of brown rice based on its color. Furthermore, the sorting device 5d also determines the condition of defective brown rice based on its color.

[0037] Here, the sorting device 5d identifies the defective state (cause) of the brown rice based on its color abnormalities. Specifically, the sorting device 5d determines that brown rice grains that are whiter than their normal color (cloudy) are immature white grains, that brown rice grains with some black in them are damaged by stink bugs, and that brown rice grains that are darker than normal (black or brown) are damaged by scorching.

[0038] Since none of these defective products can be shipped, there is no need to subdivide and sort them by cause of defect, so they can be collected together. The sorting device 5d stores information about the condition of the defective rice based on the detected color, and the cause of the defect. The sorting device 5d also weighs the amount of brown rice to be sorted and determines the total amount of sorted brown rice (the amount of brown rice that passed through). The sorting device 5d also determines the amount of brown rice (grains) that were deemed defective. As a result, the sorting device 5d determines the total amount of sorted brown rice and the amount of brown rice judged to be defective out of that total, derives the percentage of good products and the percentage of defective products (percentage by cause), and stores the total amount of brown rice, the amount of brown rice judged to be defective, the percentage of good products, and the percentage of defective products (percentage by cause).

[0039] The sorting device 5d is pre-loaded with production information (data) such as the name of the brown rice producer, the production location (field names Fa to Fn), and the harvest date. Along with the production information, the sorting device 5d transmits crop quality information, including the total amount of sorted brown rice, the percentage of good rice, and the percentage of defective rice (percentage by cause), from the communication device 50d to the cloud C (control device 3) via the internet line 6.

[0040] In this way, various information is transmitted from each of the devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and the sorting device 5d to the cloud C (control device 3). That is, the control device 3 acquires the detection result from the sorting device 5d as one of the crop quality information. In addition, as described above, the control device 3 also acquires various crop quality information and cultivation environment information from each of the devices 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e (rice transplanter 4a, tractor 4b, combine harvester 4d, etc.) used in crop cultivation. Accordingly, the control device 3 stores the transmitted information in the second storage unit 31b. Information transmitted at different times is sequentially stored and accumulated in the second storage unit 31b. Accordingly, information of the same item is added to the second storage unit 31b each time, from past to latest information.

[0041] The control device 3 determines the quality of the latest rice harvest based on the crop quality information stored in the second storage unit 31b. Specifically, the control device 3 determines the quality of the latest rice harvest (this year's rice harvest) by comparing past crop quality information (crop quality information obtained from the sorting device 5d) stored in the second storage unit 31b with the latest crop quality information (crop quality information obtained from the sorting device 5d). The control device 3 makes this judgment on a field-by-field basis regarding the quality of the rice harvest for that year.

[0042] Specifically, the control device 3 derives the yield for each field Fa to Fn and the defect rate for each field Fa to Fn each year, and determines whether the yield and defect rate are higher than past performance. Here, past performance may be the yield and defect rate from the previous year, but it may also be the year with the lowest yield or the year with the lowest defect rate.

[0043] The control device 3 identifies fields Fa to Fn with low yields and fields Fa to Fn with high defect rates by comparing them with past performance, and stores them as fields Fa to Fn that require improvement in the crop growing environment. In addition, the control device 3 associates each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn in the pre-stored map data with the latest judgment results on the quality of the rice harvest for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn, and stores them in the second storage unit 31b.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 3 is configured to associate each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn in the pre-stored map data with the latest judgment result of the quality of the rice harvest for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn, and to represent the latest judgment result of the quality of the rice harvest for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn in the map data by color coding or highlighting. Note that the highlighting only needs to be more emphasized than others, for example, by brightness or shade.

[0045] In this embodiment, the control device 3 is configured to highlight, when the terminal device 2 displays a map, the fields Fa to Fn that have experienced a decrease in rice yield or a high rate of defective rice, based on the latest rice harvest quality assessment results for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn.

[0046] Furthermore, the control device 3 may calculate the rate of improvement or deterioration of the crop growing environment in the latest harvest in relation to past performance for each field Fa to Fn, and store the calculation result in the second storage unit 31b.

[0047] The control device 3 derives the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H set for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn is likely to affect crop quality.

[0048] To explain in more detail, if the factors (items) that affect the quality of crop growth are appropriate, the crop growth (quality) will be good, and if the factors (items) that affect the quality of crop growth are inappropriate, the crop growth (quality) will be poor. Also, if the factors (items) that affect the quality of crop growth are improved from an inappropriate state to an appropriate state, the crop growth (quality) will be good. Based on this, in the crop growth improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, when the quality of crop growth becomes poor (deteriorates), the factors (conditions) that can be improved to an appropriate state, thereby improving the quality of crop growth (quality), are set as improvement items. Furthermore, the degree of influence on crop growth (quality) differs depending on the improvement item (improvable item). Based on this, in the crop growth improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, the degree of influence on crop growth (quality) is derived by the control device 3 of Cloud C without human intervention.

[0049] In this embodiment, the control device 3 derives the degree to which multiple improvement items A to H are likely to affect crop quality for each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn, based on crop quality information relating to the quality of crops harvested in each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn and growing environment information relating to the growing environment of crops in each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn.

[0050] More specifically, in this embodiment, the multiple improvement items A to H are items that affect the quality of the crop and relate to the period until the crop matures (becomes ready for harvest), the timing of the work performed during that period, and the content of the work (process). Therefore, each of the multiple improvement items A to H includes different elements.

[0051] Specifically, the quality of the crop (rice, a cereal in this embodiment) is affected by one or a combination of the following: soil composition, water quality, water temperature, timing and duration of mid-season drainage, weed status (whether or not weeding is performed), timing of fertilization, type of fertilizer, amount of fertilizer, presence or absence of pests, type of pesticide, amount of pesticide, timing of pesticide application, weather, and planting conditions.

[0052] For example, the occurrence of stink bugs, a pest, can cause a decline in rice quality. The presence or absence of stink bugs and the effectiveness of their control are influenced by the presence or absence of pests, the type of pesticide used, the amount of pesticide used, and the timing of pesticide application. In other words, a decline in rice quality due to the occurrence of stink bugs is due to a flawed or insufficient control plan. Furthermore, insufficient rice development (the state of developing white panicles) is related to the field... Rice growth is affected by soil type (F~Fn), weather, water quality, water temperature, timing and duration of mid-season drainage, type of fertilizer, amount of fertilizer, and timing of fertilization. In other words, insufficient rice growth is due to the water quality obtained from the water source, inadequate or insufficient water management, and inadequate or insufficient fertilization planning.

[0053] Furthermore, insufficient rice development (resulting in white ears) is also influenced by factors other than those mentioned above, such as the timing of rice planting and the period from planting to harvest. In other words, insufficient rice development (resulting in white ears) can sometimes be due to incorrect timing of cultivation. Also, since rice planting is done using a 4a rice transplanter, it can sometimes be due to improper machine settings (for example, settings for spacing between plants or rows). In addition, the cause of rice becoming powdery (shirata) is due to climate and unfavorable weather conditions.

[0054] Based on these considerations, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, has eight improvement items A to H that have the potential to improve crop yield and reduce the rate of crop failure in fields Fa to Fn where crop yields are low or the rate of crop failures is high: (A) cultivation timing, (B) climate / weather, (C) fertilization plan, (D) pest control plan, (E) water management, (F) water quality, (G) soil quality, and (H) machine settings.

[0055] Each of the multiple improvement items A to H is not a single requirement, but includes multiple requirements (hereinafter referred to as "details"). In this embodiment, since rice is the target, cultivation timing A includes planting time (date and time) and harvest time (date and time) as details, climate / weather B includes climate (seasons), weather, temperature, precipitation, etc. as details. Furthermore, the fertilization plan includes fertilizer type, fertilization timing (date and time), fertilization amount, etc. as details, and the pest control plan D includes pesticide application timing (date and time), pesticide type (pesticide name), number of applications, amount of pesticide applied per application, etc. as details. In addition, water management includes water intake / drainage timing (date and time), mid-season drainage timing (date and time) and duration, daily water temperature, daily water level in fields Fa to Fn, maximum water temperature for 3 days before and after heading, etc. as details, and water quality includes water source name, pH, etc. as details. Furthermore, soil type G includes detailed parameters such as soil type and pH, while machine settings H includes multiple detailed parameters such as planting speed (planting speed by rice transplanter 4a) and seedling spacing, which may damage seedlings.

[0056] As described above, the control device 3, after determining the quality of the latest harvest, derives the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H is likely to affect the quality of the crops in fields Fa to Fn that have decreased yields or high rates of crop defects. In other words, as described above, if the contents of multiple improvement items A to H are appropriate, the crop yield will be sufficient and the rate of crop defects will be low. However, if the contents of at least one of the improvement items A to H are inappropriate (insufficient), it will lead to a decrease in crop yield and a worsening of the crop defect rate, so the contents of any of the improvement items A to H will affect the deterioration of the yield and the rate of crop defects.

[0057] Based on this, the control device 3 sets the degree to which improvement items A to H are likely to have an impact on crop quality, according to the magnitude of variation in the latest growing environment information (details) included in the same improvement items A to H, relative to past performance (performance of growing environment information) included in the same improvement items A to H. In this embodiment, the control device 3 sets a higher degree to which it is likely to have an impact on crop quality as the variation in growing environment information is greater.

[0058] Specifically, the control device 3 calculates the difference (deviation) between the average of past growing environment information (details) included in improvement items A to H and the latest growing environment information (details) included in the same improvement items A to H. It then compares the deviations of multiple improvement items A to H, and sets the degree to which improvement items A to H with larger deviations are likely to have an impact on crop quality.

[0059] The average of past growing environment information (details) included in improvement items A to H is for all fields Fa to Fn. The average may be the average of past growing environment information (details), or it may be the average of past growing environment information (details) for selected specific fields Fa to Fn. In this embodiment, the average of past growing environment information included in improvement items A to H is the average of past growing environment information (details) for all fields Fa to Fn. Since each of the multiple improvement items A to H includes multiple details, the control device 3 calculates the deviation (variability) for each detail of the multiple improvement items A to H and sets the degree to which it is likely to affect crop quality (degree to which it can be improved).

[0060] The degree to which a factor is likely to affect crop quality (the degree to which it can be improved) is determined by comparing the calculated deviation with a predetermined baseline value used as an indicator. For example, the baseline value is set as 100%, the percentage relative to this baseline value is divided into several stages, the difference between the baseline value and the calculated deviation is calculated as a percentage of the baseline deviation (e.g., in percent), and then it is determined which stage the result falls into.

[0061] More specifically, a pre-set baseline value is set as 100%, and the percentage relative to this baseline value is divided into five stages, corresponding to the number of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 (five in this embodiment) included in the indicator images Ia~Ih (single indicator image Ia~Ih), which will be described later. For example, the 0%~20% of the baseline value is the first stage, the 21%~40% of the baseline value is the second stage, the 41%~60% of the baseline value is the third stage, the 61%~80% of the baseline value is the fourth stage, and the 81%~100% of the baseline value is the fifth stage. Then, the degree to which the difference between the predetermined standard value and the calculated deviation is relative to the standard value determines the degree to which it is likely affecting crop quality (the degree to which it can be improved), which is determined on a multi-level scale (in this case, five levels).

[0062] This clarifies the number of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 to display, or the number of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 to hide, depending on the degree to which they are likely affecting crop quality (the degree to which they can be improved).

[0063] In this embodiment, the control device 3 stores improvement information 7, which includes multiple improvement items A to H, as image data in the second storage unit 31b. That is, the control device 3 stores improvement information 7, which includes multiple improvement items A to H, as image data in the second storage unit 31b, which is image data of a display image to be displayed on the monitor 21 of the terminal device 2. In the following description, improvement information 7 will be referred to as improvement item confirmation image 7.

[0064] The improvement item confirmation image 7 consists of multiple indicator images Ia to Ih, each representing one of the multiple improvement items A to H, and each of these indicator images Ia to Ih contains multiple display segments. Each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih (improvement items A to H) is configured to express the degree to which each of the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 is displayed in a display manner corresponding to that degree. In other words, in the crop growth improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, the terminal device 2 displays the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H is likely to affect the quality of the crop as the improvement item confirmation image 7, based on instructions from the control device 3, in a display manner corresponding to that degree.

[0065] In this embodiment, as described above, the variation in growth environment information in each improvement item A to H The larger the deviation, the greater the likelihood that improvement items A to H are affecting crop quality. The greater the degree of influence, the fewer times the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are displayed. This is just one example; for instance, the greater the degree of influence, the more times the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are displayed.

[0066] More specifically, in the image data of the improvement item confirmation image 7 stored in the second storage unit 31b, each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih exhibits a fan shape or a partial annular shape (in this embodiment, a partial annular shape). Each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih is arranged in a circumferential direction, and the entire improvement information is represented in a circular or annular shape (in this embodiment, an annular shape). The multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5 in each of the multiple level meter images are arranged in a circular or annular radial direction. In other words, the multiple display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5 are displayed in a stacked state (stacked) in the radial direction.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 3 hides the display segments Sa5, Sb5, Sc5, Sd5, Se5, Sf5, Sg5, and Sh5 located on the radial outer periphery as the likelihood of an improvement item A to H increasing increases, thereby reducing the number of displays for display segments Sa5, Sb5, Sc5, Sd5, Se5, Sf5, Sg5, and Sh5. In this embodiment, in the indicator images Ia to Ih representing each improvement item A to H, multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are set to differ in at least one of their color and brightness.

[0068] In this embodiment, the control device 3 grasps the poor condition of the crop and associates the poor condition with improvement items A to H related to it. Specifically, the control device 3 associates the poor condition with a high rate of crop failure with the latest information on improvement items A to H related to that poor condition. Furthermore, the control device 3 associates items among improvement items A to H that deviate from past conditions (for example, water temperature and water level in water management) with information on improvement methods (measures for improvement) (hereinafter referred to as improvement suggestion information) 8.

[0069] As shown in Figure 8, the improvement suggestion information 8 includes at least one of text information 8a and a figure (image information) that makes producers aware of measures to improve crop quality. In this embodiment, the improvement suggestion information 8 is text information 8a (text data). For example, it is said that if the maximum water temperature during the three days before and after heading is higher than the appropriate temperature (good temperature), the occurrence of immature white grains increases. Accordingly, if the sorting device 5d determines that the defective state of the rice is immature white grains, then text information 8a such as, "A strong correlation was observed between the maximum water temperature during the three days before and after heading and quality (immature white grains). Improvement can be expected by keeping it at around 32.5°C," is stored in the second storage unit 31b as improvement suggestion information 8. Note that the content of the above improvement suggestion information 8 is merely an example of a measure to improve immature white grains, and the content is set as appropriate. Furthermore, text information 8a with content related to each improvement measure is set according to the defective state of the crop.

[0070] Furthermore, in order to enable producers to visually recognize the measures, for all or some of the improvement items A to H, the improvement suggestion information 8 may be replaced with an image 8b such as a diagram or graph instead of text information 8a. To achieve this, in all or some of the multiple improvement items A to H, an image diagram 8b, such as a figure or graph, may be displayed along with text information 8a as improvement suggestion information 8. In this embodiment, in some of the multiple improvement items A to H, an image diagram 8b, such as a figure or graph, is displayed along with text information 8a as improvement suggestion information 8.

[0071] The crop cultivation improvement support system 1 of this embodiment is as described above and is used when formulating a plan for the next fiscal year after the year's harvest is completed and all information has been acquired (for example, at the end of the year).

[0072] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, when a crop producer instructs (operates) the terminal device 2 to display a map on the monitor 21, the terminal device 2 requests map data from the cloud C (control device 3). Accordingly, the control device 3 sends the requested map data to the terminal device 2 that requested the map data. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 3, the producer's terminal device 2 displays the received map MP on the monitor 21 using a browser. As described above, the control device 3 is configured to highlight fields Fa~Fn with reduced rice yields or fields Fa~Fn with high rates of defective rice when the map MP is displayed on the terminal device 2. Accordingly, on the map displayed on the monitor 21, fields Fa~Fn with reduced rice yields or fields Fa~Fn with high rates of defective rice are highlighted.

[0073] This allows producers to identify fields Fa to Fn that require improvement or countermeasures by visually checking the highlighting on the map displayed on monitor 21, without having to check data such as rice yield.

[0074] Terminal device 2 is configured to allow selection of at least one field Fa to Fn from among multiple field Fa to Fn displayed on the map on monitor 21. Terminal device 2 also displays improvement information for the selected field Fa to Fn.

[0075] Specifically, since terminal device 2 allows selection of fields Fa to Fn on the map, when a producer selects one or more fields Fa to Fn from among the multiple fields Fa to Fn displayed on the map MP on monitor 21 using a mouse 23 or the like, terminal device 2 requests control device 3 to send data of improvement item confirmation images 7 for the selected fields Fa to Fn. Accordingly, control device 3 sends data of improvement item confirmation images 7 targeting the selected fields Fa to Fn to terminal device 2, which requested the data transmission.

[0076] Then, terminal device 2 receives the data of the improvement item confirmation image 7, and as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the browser displays the received improvement item confirmation image 7 (image data) on monitor 21. In other words, terminal device 2 displays on monitor 21 multiple indicator images Ia to Ih, each representing one of the multiple improvement items A to H as improvement information, and each indicator image Ia to Ih contains multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5. As described above, in each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih (improvement items A to H), the degree to which the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are displayed is expressed by the number of displays in each of the display segments.

[0077] In this embodiment, each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih is displayed in a partial circular pattern, as stored in the second storage unit 31b of the control device 3. More specifically, each of the multiple indicator images Ia to Ih is arranged in a circumferential direction to display multiple improvement information. They are displayed together in a circular shape. That is, multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) are arranged continuously in the circumferential direction on the monitor 21, and the improvement item confirmation image 7 is displayed as a circular image on the monitor 21.

[0078] As a result, the multiple display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 in each of the multiple level meter images are arranged radially in a circular or annular shape. In addition, in the indicator images Ia~Ih representing each improvement item A~H, the multiple display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 are displayed with at least one of the following differences: color and brightness.

[0079] Indicator images Ia to Ih, which represent each improvement item A to H, express the degree to which they are likely to be affecting crop quality, based on the number of displayed segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5.

[0080] Therefore, all of the display segments Sa1-Sa5, Sb1-Sb5, Sc1-Sc5, Sd1-Sd5, Se1-Se5, Sf1-Sf5, Sg1-Sg5, and Sh1-Sh5 for improvement items A-H (indicator images Ia-Ih) that do not affect crop quality are displayed. In other words, when fields Fa-Fn, where crop quality improvement is not necessary, are selected, as shown in Figure 6, all of the display segments Sa1-Sa5, Sb1-Sb5, Sc1-Sc5, Sd1-Sd5, Se1-Se5, Sf1-Sf5, Sg1-Sg5, and Sh1-Sh5 are displayed for all of the improvement items A-H (indicator images Ia-Ih).

[0081] As a result, the improvement item confirmation image 7 is displayed with the same width (uniform width) in the radial direction throughout the entire collection. Note that if all data for improvement items A to H, or data for the details included in improvement items A to H, is unavailable (cannot be obtained), it is not possible to determine whether improvement is necessary or to derive the degree of improvement. Therefore, for improvement items A to H for which data is unavailable (cannot be obtained), multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are hidden.

[0082] Fields Fa to Fn that are not highlighted indicate good crop growth (no improvement is needed). If a producer selects one of the unhighlighted fields Fa to Fn on monitor 21, and then selects one of the multiple improvement items A to H for that field Fa to Fn (indicator images Ia to Ih showing all display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5), then monitor 21 will display text information 8a, such as the standard phrase "No improvement is needed."

[0083] In contrast, the highlighted fields Fa~Fn are fields where the rice yield or the rate of defective rice in that year has worsened compared to the past (last year). Therefore, even when the highlighted fields Fa~Fn are selected, the improvement item confirmation image 7 is displayed on the monitor 21, as shown in Figure 7. However, in the improvement item confirmation image 7 displayed on the monitor 21, the radial width of at least one location in the circumferential direction is displayed as a different width (uneven width) compared to other locations. That is, for improvement items A~H (improvement items A~H that need improvement regarding crop growth) that may be affecting crop quality, a number of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 are displayed according to the degree of their impact (need for improvement). This embodiment also displays the expected yield and quality results resulting from the improvements. In the configuration shown in the figure, the results are displayed as a ranking before and after the improvements.

[0084] This allows producers to instantly recognize improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) that affect crop quality (indicator images Ia to Ih) based on the number of display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 of the improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih), or in other words, the circumferential irregularities of the improvement item confirmation image 7.

[0085] Then, when a producer selects improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih in which all of the multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5) that are affecting crop quality on the monitor 21, the terminal device 2 requests the cloud C (control device 3) to send data regarding improvement suggestion information 8 corresponding to the selected improvement items A to H. Accordingly, the cloud C (control device 3) sends the improvement suggestion information 8 corresponding to the selected improvement items A to H to the terminal device 2 that requested the data transmission. Upon receiving the data, the terminal device 2 displays the improvement suggestion information 8 on the monitor 21 using a browser, as shown in Figure 8.

[0086] For example, if the poor condition of the rice in that year is white immature grains, and not all of the display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 of the water quality improvement items A~H in the improvement item confirmation image 7 are displayed, then when the producer selects water quality improvement items A~H (indicator images Ia~Ih), the terminal device 2 will use a browser to display improvement suggestion information 8a to the monitor 21, for example, "A strong correlation was observed between the maximum water temperature and quality (white immature grains) for the three days before and after heading. Improvement can be expected by keeping the temperature around 32.5℃." In this embodiment, in addition to the text information 8a described above, a graph plotting the water temperature for the target fields Fa to Fn for that year (the highest water temperature for the three days before and after heading) and the past performance of the target fields Fa to Fn (the highest water temperature for the three days before and after heading in previous years) is displayed on the monitor 21. The graph displayed on the monitor 21 is accompanied by an arrow image that suggests adjusting the water temperature for that year to the appropriate water temperature (the water temperature in years when there were no problems with crop quality, or a water temperature at which, theoretically, there are no problems with crop quality).

[0087] This allows producers to visually identify areas for improvement in the following year's crop production and methods (strategies) for improvement, enabling them to incorporate these improvements into the production of high-quality crops.

[0088] In the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 of this embodiment, the sorting device 5d installed at the rice center 5 is equipped with the same terminal device 2 as described above. Therefore, the sorting device 5d at the rice center 5 can perform the same processing as the terminal device 2. Consequently, even if the producer does not own a terminal device 2, by utilizing the sorting device 5d at the rice center 5 (performing the same operations as the terminal device 2), the map MP can be displayed on the monitor 21 of the sorting device 5d (terminal device 2) to check the quality of the crops in fields Fa to Fn. Furthermore, the monitor 21 of the sorting device 5d (terminal device 2) allows the user to check the improvement item confirmation image 7 (the number of scale divisions for each display segment Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 of the indicator images Ia~Ih, which represent multiple improvement items A~H), to confirm improvement items A~H that may be affecting crop quality, and to check the content of the improvement suggestion information 8 for those improvement items A~H.

[0089] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the terminal device 2 and the control device 3 are connected via an internet line 6, but the system is not limited to this. That is, in the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 of the above embodiment, information from equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e used for crop cultivation (rice transplanter 4a, tractor 4b, multicopter 4c, combine harvester 4d) and sorting device 5d that sorts crops is stored in the second storage unit 31b of the control device 3 (cloud C), and information (including executable files) is sent from the control device 3 to the terminal device 2 used (operated) by the producer to display a map, improvement item confirmation screen A to H, etc. on the terminal device 2, but the system is not limited to this.

[0091] For example, in another embodiment, the terminal device 2 may function as a control device 3, and information from equipment 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e used for crop cultivation (rice transplanter 4a, tractor 4b, multicopter 4c, combine harvester 4d) and a sorting device 5d for sorting crops may be transmitted to the terminal device 2 via the internet line 6 and stored in the terminal device 2. Accordingly, the terminal device 2 as the control device 3 may execute the processing that was performed by Cloud C in the above embodiment (processing related to setting details in improvement items A to H, recognition of crop defects, improvement items A to H that may be affecting crop quality, improvement suggestion information 8, etc.), and display a map, improvement item A to H confirmation screen (multiple indicator images Ia to Ih), and improvement suggestion information 8 on the monitor 21 of the terminal device 2 itself. In other words, the processing described in the above embodiment may be performed by the terminal device 2 without going through Cloud C.

[0092] In the above embodiment, eight improvement items A to H were set as improvement items A to H that have the potential to improve crop yield and reduce the rate of crop defects: (A) cultivation timing, (B) climate / weather, (C) fertilization plan, (D) pest control plan, (E) water management, (F) water quality, (G) soil quality, and (H) machine settings. However, the invention is not limited to these. The content (notation) set for improvement items A to H and the number of improvement items A to H can be changed as appropriate. Of course, each of the multiple improvement items A to H corresponds to (is associated with) the cause of the deterioration of crop yield or the deterioration of the rate of crop defects, and the measures to improve them (improvement suggestion information 8).

[0093] In the above embodiment, the improvement item confirmation image 7 has an annular shape, but is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, each of the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may have a fan shape and be arranged in a circumferential direction, and the improvement item confirmation image 7 that combines the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may have a circular shape. In this case as well, the multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5 that constitute each improvement item A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may be arranged in a radial direction.

[0094] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, each of the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may have a rectangular shape, and the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may be arranged side by side, so that the improvement item confirmation image 7, which combines the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih), has a horizontally elongated rectangular shape. In this case, the multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5 that constitute each improvement item A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the multiple improvement items A to H (indicator images Ia to Ih) are arranged.

[0095] In the above embodiment, paddy fields were used as fields Fa to Fn, and rice, a cereal, was used as the crop. However, the crop to which the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 is applied may be other cereals besides rice, or other crops (vegetables). Accordingly, the characteristics of the target fields Fa to Fn, the environment in which the crops are grown, and the equipment used in the cultivation or harvesting process will differ from those in the above embodiment. Therefore, the information transmitted from each piece of equipment to the control device 3, and the contents of the multiple improvement items A to H, will naturally be changed as appropriate according to the crop being produced (grown).

[0096] In the above embodiment, the control device 3, for each improvement item A to H, hides display segments Sa5, Sb5, Sc5, Sd5, Se5, Sf5, Sg5, and Sh5 located on the radial outer periphery as the likelihood of them affecting crop quality increases, thereby reducing the number of displays in display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5, but is not limited to this.

[0097] For example, in each of the improvement items A to H, the control device 3 will hide the display segments Sa1, Sb1, Sc1, Sd1, Se1, Sf1, Sg1, Sh1 on the radial inner circumference as the likelihood of them affecting crop quality increases, and will hide the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5. You may reduce the number of displays, or you may randomly hide multiple display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 and reduce the number of displays of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the terminal device 2 displays multiple indicator images Ia to Ih as improvement information 7, each representing one of the multiple improvement items A to H, and each indicator image Ia to Ih includes multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5. In each of the multiple improvement items A to H, the display mode is expressed according to the degree to which the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, and Sh1 to Sh5 are displayed. However, the device is not limited to this embodiment. For example, terminal device 2 may display improvement information 7, indicating the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H is likely to affect the quality of the crop, using different brightness levels, different colors, different numerical values ​​(degrees), etc. In other words, terminal device 2 should display the information in different ways so that differences in the degree (degree) of influence on crop quality can be recognized.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the sorting device 5d is a color sorting device that detects light transmitted through or reflected from the crop, identifies (detects) the color of the crop based on the detection result, and sorts the crop into two or more (good and bad products), but is not limited to this. For example, the sorting device 5d may sort the crop into two or more without recognizing color. That is, the sorting device 5d may detect light transmitted through or reflected from the crop (light components such as wavelength of light) and sort the crop into two or more based on the detection result itself.

[0100] The above embodiments are as described above, and the present invention (preferred embodiments thereof) provides a crop growth improvement support system 1 as described in the following items.

[0101] (Item 1) A crop cultivation improvement support system 1 includes at least one terminal device 2 capable of displaying improvement information 7, which includes a plurality of improvement items A to H related to improving the crop cultivation environment in crop cultivation fields Fa to Fn, wherein the terminal device 2 displays the degree to which each of the plurality of improvement items A to H is likely to affect the quality of the crop as the improvement information 7, in a display manner corresponding to that degree.

[0102] According to the crop growth improvement support system 1 of item 1, the terminal device 2 displays the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H is likely to affect the quality of the crop as improvement information 7, in a display manner corresponding to that degree. In other words, the degree to which improvement items A to H can potentially improve the quality of the crop can be understood by displaying them in a manner corresponding to the degree to which they are likely to affect the quality of the crop.

[0103] (Item 2) The terminal device 2 displays a plurality of indicator images Ia to Ih as improvement information 7, each of which represents a plurality of improvement items A to H, and each indicator image Ia to Ih includes a plurality of display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5, and for each of the plurality of improvement items A to H, the display mode according to item 1 is expressed by the number of times the display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5 are displayed, thereby expressing a display mode according to the degree.

[0104] According to item 2, the crop growth improvement support system 1, the terminal device 2 has multiple indicator images Ia to Ih that represent each of the multiple improvement items A to H related to improving the crop growth environment, and includes multiple display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5, and display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se The number of 1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5 displayed represents the degree to which they may be affecting crop quality. By checking the number (quantity) of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5 displayed for each improvement item A~H, it is possible to identify improvement items A~H that may be affecting crop quality. In other words, by checking the displayed display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5, it is possible to identify improvement items A~H that may be able to improve crop quality. Furthermore, by understanding the number of displayed segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5, it is possible to understand the extent to which they are affecting crop quality (growth). In other words, it is possible to understand the degree to which crop quality can be improved.

[0105] (Item 3) The crop cultivation improvement support system 1 according to item 1 or item 2 includes a control device 3 that derives the degree to which the crop quality is likely to be affected, wherein the control device 3 derives the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H is likely to be affected, based on crop quality information relating to the quality of crops harvested in each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn and cultivation environment information relating to the cultivation environment of the crops in each of the multiple fields Fa to Fn.

[0106] According to the crop growth improvement support system 1 of item 3, the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H derived by the control device 3 is likely to affect crop quality is a result that takes into account the correlation between the state of crop quality and the crop growing environment, and is therefore highly reliable.

[0107] (Item 4) The crop growth improvement support system 1 according to item 3, which includes a sorting device 5d that detects light transmitted through or reflected by the crop and sorts the crop into at least two or more based on the detected light, and the control device 3 acquires the detection result by the sorting device 5d as one of the crop quality information.

[0108] According to item 4, the crop growth improvement support system 1, the control device 3 acquires the detection results from the sorting device 5d (the results of sorting the crop into at least two categories based on the light that detected the crop) as one of the crop quality information. Therefore, the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items A to H derived by the control device 3 is likely to affect crop quality will be obtained based on the actual correlation between the state of crop quality and the crop growing environment, making it more reliable.

[0109] (Item 5) The terminal device 2 is configured to select at least one field Fa to Fn from among a plurality of fields Fa to Fn, and the crop cultivation improvement support system 1 is configured to display the improvement information for the selected field Fa to Fn as described in one of items 1 to 4.

[0110] According to item 5, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1, even if there are multiple fields Fa to Fn for cultivating crops, it is possible to recognize improvement information for the selected field Fa to Fn (the specified field Fa to Fn).

[0111] (Item 6) The terminal device 2 is configured to select at least one improvement item A to H from the plurality of improvement items A to H, and the control device 3, when an improvement item A to H is selected, displays on the terminal device 2 at least one of text information 8a and a figure, a crop cultivation improvement support system 1 as described in one of items 1 to 5.

[0112] According to item 6, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1, the control device 3 displays improvement methods for selected improvement items A to H in at least one of text information 8a and a diagram. By recognizing at least one of the displayed text information 8a and diagram, producers can learn about improvement methods for crop cultivation in selected fields Fa to Fn.

[0113] (Item 7) Each of the plurality of indicator images Ia to Ih is displayed in a fan shape or a partial ring shape and arranged in a circumferential direction so that the improvement information is displayed in a circular or ring shape, and each of the plurality of display segments Sa1 to Sa5, Sb1 to Sb5, Sc1 to Sc5, Sd1 to Sd5, Se1 to Se5, Sf1 to Sf5, Sg1 to Sg5, Sh1 to Sh5 in each of the plurality of indicator images Ia to Ih is one of the items 2 to 6 arranged in a radial direction of the circular or ring shape, and the item is described in an item that directly or indirectly references item 2.

[0114] According to item 7, the crop cultivation improvement support system 1, the degree of potential for improvement can be recognized at a glance from the number (volume) of the displayed display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, and Sh1~Sh5 based on the improvement information.

[0115] (Item 8) The aforementioned plurality of display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 are items 2 to 7 that are displayed with at least one of the color and brightness differing, and the crop growth improvement support system 1 is described in the item that directly or indirectly references item 2.

[0116] According to item 8, the crop growth improvement support system 1, since multiple display segments Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 differ in at least one of their color and brightness, it becomes easier to understand each display segment Sa1~Sa5, Sb1~Sb5, Sc1~Sc5, Sd1~Sd5, Se1~Se5, Sf1~Sf5, Sg1~Sg5, Sh1~Sh5 on a unit-by-unit basis. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1: Crop cultivation improvement support system 2: Terminal device 2a: Terminal device 3: Control device 4a: Rice transplanter (equipment) 4b: Tractor (equipment) 4c: Multicopter (equipment) 4d: Combine harvester (equipment) 4e: Water management equipment (equipment) 5d: Sorting device (color sorter) 7: Improvement Information (Image confirming improvement items) 8: Improvement proposal information 8a: Text information Fa~Fn : Field Ia~Ih: Indicator image Sa1~Sh1: Display segment Sa2~Sh2: Display segment Sa3~Sh3: Display Segment Sa4~Sh4: Display segment Sa5~Sh5: Display segment

Claims

1. It includes at least one terminal device capable of displaying improvement information, which includes multiple improvement items related to improving the growing environment of the crop in a field where the crop is grown, The terminal device is a crop cultivation improvement support system that displays, as improvement information, the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items is likely to affect the quality of the crop, in a display manner corresponding to that degree.

2. The crop cultivation improvement support system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device displays a plurality of indicator images representing each of the plurality of improvement items, each of which includes a plurality of display segments, and for each of the plurality of improvement items, the display mode is expressed according to the degree by the number of display segments displayed.

3. Includes a control device for deriving the degree to which the quality of the crop is likely to be affected, The crop cultivation improvement support system according to claim 1, wherein the control device derives the degree to which each of the multiple improvement items is likely to affect the quality of the crop, based on crop quality information relating to the quality of crops harvested in each of the multiple fields and cultivation environment information relating to the cultivation environment of the crops in each of the multiple fields.

4. The sorting machine includes a machine that detects light transmitted through or reflected from the crop and sorts the crop into at least two or more based on the detected light. The crop cultivation improvement support system according to claim 3, wherein the control device acquires the detection result by the sorting machine as one of the crop quality information.

5. The crop cultivation improvement support system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is configured to select at least one field from among a plurality of fields, and displays the improvement information for the selected field.

6. The crop cultivation improvement support system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is configured to select at least one improvement item from the plurality of improvement items, and the control device, when an improvement item is selected, displays on the terminal device an improvement method relating to the selected improvement item in at least one of text information and a diagram.

7. The crop growth improvement support system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of indicator images is displayed in a fan shape or a partial ring shape and is arranged in a circumferential direction so that the improvement information is displayed in a circular or ring shape, and the plurality of display segments in each of the plurality of indicator images are arranged in a radial direction of the circular or ring shape.

8. The crop growth improvement support system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of display segments are displayed with at least one of the color and brightness being different.

Images