Variable Fertilization Apparatus Using Soil Color Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variable fertilization methods for basal fertilizers in farm fields often result in suspected variations in crop growth situations, leading to concerns among farmers that the growth situation may be larger than without fertilization, which can deter farmers from adopting variable fertilization practices.
Innovation Solution
A fertilization assistance apparatus and method that estimate soil nitrogen distribution by analyzing soil color in captured images, generating basal fertilizer variable fertilization information based on correlations between soil color and crop growth situations, and outputting this information to assist in variable fertilization, considering both soil nitrogen distribution and fertility variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If variable fertilization of basal fertilizer is performed based on soil nitrogen distribution, then fertilizer application efficiency is improved, but farmers suspect that variations in crop growth situation will increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging of the farm field before planting to estimate soil nitrogen distribution in advance. By determining the fertilization plan beforehand based on pre-planted crop types and soil conditions, the system can apply variable fertilization that pre-compensates for expected growth variations, thereby improving fertilizer efficiency while maintaining growth uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of fertilizer application amount based on estimated soil nitrogen distribution and crop type characteristics. By adjusting the fertilization amount according to soil nitrogen levels and specific crop requirements, the system optimizes fertilizer application efficiency while preventing excessive growth variations that would concern farmers.
2Quantity of substance
If variable fertilization is implemented, then fertilizer use optimization is achieved, but farmers have concerns about increased growth situation variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback by comparing estimated soil nitrogen distribution with actual crop growth data and soil samples. This feedback mechanism allows the system to refine its variable fertilization recommendations, optimizing fertilizer usage while ensuring that growth variations remain within acceptable ranges that farmers find acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by tailoring fertilization amounts to specific locations based on soil nitrogen distribution and crop type. Each region receives customized fertilization that optimizes fertilizer usage locally while maintaining overall growth uniformity across the farm field, addressing farmers' concerns about growth variations.
3Ease of manufacture
If soil color analysis is used to estimate nitrogen distribution, then measurement cost is reduced, but measurement precision may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple information sources including soil color data from imaging, soil nitrogen distribution estimates, actual soil sample analysis, and crop growth data. By combining these diverse data sources, the system maintains low measurement costs through image analysis while compensating for its limitations through integration with more precise but costly soil sampling and growth monitoring data.
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
The solution provides useful information to suppress variations in crop growth situations by considering both soil nitrogen and fertility, increasing the adoption of variable fertilization practices among farmers by addressing their concerns about growth variations.
Implementation Method 1
obtain image data representing a farm field before planting by using an imaging device
Implementation Method 2
estimate a distribution of an amount of soil nitrogen in the farm field by analyzing a color of soil in the farm field in the captured image
Data Source
AI summary
A fertilization assistance apparatus estimates estimation soil nitrogen distribution in a farm field by analyzing color of soil of the farm field in a captured image in which the farm field before planting is imaged. The fertilization assistance apparatus determines whether there is a correlation between the color of soil and growth situation of a crop in the farm field. In a case where there is a correlation between the color of soil and the growth situation of the crop in the farm field, the fertilization assistance apparatus generates basal fertilizer variable fertilization information using the information about the estimation soil nitrogen distribution. The basal fertilizer variable fertilization information indicates a relationship between the position in the farm field and the amount of applied fertilizer at the position in a case where the variable fertilization of basal fertilizer is performed.