Multi-scale Crop Stress Detection for Precision Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small-scale and medium-scale farmers in China face challenges with low automation and inaccurate water and fertilizer management in greenhouses, leading to inefficient resource use, high labor costs, and environmental pollution, due to the lack of advanced irrigation systems suitable for their needs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-scale habitat information-based method and device that uses micro-CT scanning, polarization-hyperspectral imaging, and three-dimensional laser scanning to detect water and nutrient stress in crops, integrating this data with environmental information for precise control of irrigation and fertilization, employing a PLC system to adjust fertilization and irrigation amounts dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imported water and fertilizer irrigation systems are used in large-size modern greenhouses, then mixed application accuracy and scientific management of multiple channels of fertilizers are improved, but device complexity, cost, and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides fertilizer application into multiple independent channels, each controlled separately based on specific crop needs. The fertilizer mixing device creates distinct fertilizer solutions for different nutritional requirements, allowing precise control of each fertilizer type's application rate and timing, thereby achieving accurate mixed application without requiring a monolithic complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts fertilizer application rates and mixing ratios in real-time based on detected crop growth stages, nutritional status, and environmental conditions. The control system modifies delivery parameters on-the-fly, enabling scientific management of multiple fertilizer channels with adaptability rather than fixed complex configurations
2Device complexity
If domestic small-scale fertilization systems are used, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but water and fertilizer management precision and automation level deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects crop water and fertilizer needs through sensors monitoring soil moisture, crop growth stage, and environmental conditions. The control system self-adjusts fertilizer mixing ratios and irrigation rates without manual intervention, enabling small-scale systems to achieve automated precision management while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor crop growth status, soil conditions, and fertilizer application effects. This feedback is processed by the control system to dynamically adjust fertilizer mixing and delivery parameters, achieving closed-loop automated management in compact devices suitable for small-scale operations
3Device complexity
If handheld irrigation devices are used extensively, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but water and fertilizer utilization efficiency and labor productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual handheld irrigation operations with an automated fertilizer mixing and delivery system. The automated device continuously mixes and delivers fertilizers based on detected crop needs, eliminating repetitive manual labor while maintaining simple device architecture suitable for small-scale adoption
4Reliability
If frequent water and fertilizer application is performed manually, then crop growth needs are addressed, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous automated fertilizer mixing and delivery based on real-time detection of crop growth stages and nutritional needs. Rather than periodic manual applications, the system maintains continuous optimized fertilizer supply, ensuring reliable crop growth support while eliminating repetitive labor time consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables accurate and efficient management of water and fertilizers, reducing consumption and labor costs, improving crop quality, and enhancing the economic benefits of greenhouse production by providing real-time, dynamic control of irrigation and fertilization based on crop-specific needs.
Implementation Method 1
micro-CT scanning and imaging technique to accurately phenotype the internal and external macro and micro morphological differences among plants
Implementation Method 2
polarization-hyperspectral imaging technique to detect the differences in apparent color, texture and polarization state among crops under nutrition and water stress
Implementation Method 3
polarization-hyperspectral imaging technique to detect the differences in apparent color, texture and polarization state among crops
Implementation Method 4
three-dimensional scanning and imaging technique as well as micro-CT scanning and imaging technique to accurately phenotype the internal and external macro and micro morphological differences among plants
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-scale habitat information-based method and device for detecting and controlling water and fertilizer for crops in seedling stage: performing fusion analysis on multi-scale features of the water and fertilizer stress of crops on the basis of crop canopy-scale three-dimensional laser scanning information, foliage-scale polarization-hyperspectral imaging information, and micro-scale micro-CT scanning information; combining the real-time feedback of the temperature, humidity, illumination and substrate moisture content within a crop growing greenhouse; by means of multi-information fusion modeling, comprehensively determining and feeding back the water and fertilizer stress of the crops as well as water requirement and fertilizer requirement information, and providing policy information for the amount of fertilization and irrigation. On the basis of the policy information for water and fertilizer, and on the basis of frequency conversion speed control technology and pipeline constant pressure control technology, a water and fertilizer control system controls the pressure of a pipeline and the flow rate of the fertilizer by means of dynamically controlling the rotation speed of an irrigation pump and a fertilizer pump, and thus, combined with the dynamic feedback of an EC value, the accurate control of a liquid fertilizer ratio and irrigation volume is achieved.