1. GreenSeekerTM Variable Rate Applicator Equipment and Applications

2. GreenSeekerTM Variable Applicator: Equipment and Applications
How the GreenSeekerTM works
NDVI
GreenSeekerTM RT200 & RT500
Corn and other applications

3. Sensor-Based Nitrogen Management
Variable Rate
Nozzle System
Direction
of Travel
Computer and
Sensor
Assembly
Decision Making
And Agronomic Strategy
Plant

4. GreenSeekerTM Sensor Light Detection and Filtering
Detection of
Reflected
NIR and RED
+Sun
Target
NIR and RED
Modulated
Illumination
Direction

5. Sensor Function Valves “Sensor” and Nozzles Light generation
Light signal
detection
Valve settings ?
Calculate NDVI
Lookup valve setting
Apply valve setting
Send data to UI
“Sensor”
Valves
and
Nozzles

6. GREENSEEKERTM Applicator
Sense and treat each 2 ft by 2 ft area
Apply one of seven fertilizer rates based on the crops yield potential
Accomplish this while driving 15 mph
Operate day or night
Provide the capability to detect and treat other plant problems
Record and georeference sensor data for GIS analysis
Sense and spot spray weeds (current Patchen technology)

7. Tri-valve Set for Varying Rate
8 Stepped rates
OFF to 7x
Treats 24”x 24” area applying the target rate on 85% of that area
Valve
Rate 1x 2x 4x
Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1x 2x 4x

8. User Interface/Central Computer

9. Flow Controller Pressure Controller Power Supply
Flow Meter and Pressure Sensor
Flow Control Valve

11. Plant Reflectance Reflectance (%)
0.5
Visible
Near Infrared
Measure of living plant cell’s ability to reflect infrared light
Reflectance (%)
0.25
PhotosyntheticPotential
Plant Reflectance
0.00
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
950
1000
1050
Wavelength (nm)

12. Normalized Difference Vegetative Index - NDVI
Calculated from the red and near-infrared bands
Equivalent to a plant physical examination
Correlated with:
Plant biomass
Crop yield
Plant nitrogen
Plant chlorophyll
Water stress
Plant diseases
Insect damage

13. NRich Strip for Determining Benefit of Added Fertilizer
Field Rate
Sensor data mapped and images vectorized with SST “Toolbox” GIS software

14. IKONIS Satellite Image of a Wheat Field Near Covington, Oklahoma
NDVI Image of the NRich Strip

15. IKONIS Satellite Image of a Wheat Field Near Covington, Oklahoma
Bottom Formerly in Alfalfa
Eroded Hillside
N-Rich 140 lb/ac
Farm Rate 70 lb/ac
44 bu/ac farm
Alfalfa Field Yield bu/ac
IKONIS Satellite Image of a Wheat Field Near Covington, Oklahoma
NDVI Map

16. Wheat - Hennessey, Ok NDVI Map As Applied Map
0.77 to 0.85 NDVI & 52 to 59 lb/ac N
As Applied Map
0.2 to 0. 3 NDVI & 10 to 17 lb/ac

17. IKONIS False Color Imagery Cassidy, OK P Strip and 2 NRich Strips
No P Strip
NRich Strips

18. NDVI Cassidy, OK - Wheat P Strip and 2 NRich Strips
No P Strip
NRich Strips

20. GreenSeeker RT200
GreenSeeker RT500

21. RT200 and RT 500 Specifications
Estimated Price $15,000 for 60 ft applicator
Senses and treats boom width by 20 to 30 feet
Utilizes existing variable rate sprayer controllers and valves
Combination Sense and Treat, and Sense, Predict, and Treat strategies
Reaction time limited by existing controller and valves
Estimated Price $60,000 for 60 ft applicator
Senses and treats each 2 ft by 2 ft area
Uses NTech high speed and resolution controller and valves
Sense and Treat strategy
Reaction time < 0.1 s

22. Sensing and Treatment Scale and Strategy
30 ft by 60 ft
RT500
RT200
High Resolution Sense and Treat Strategy
Treated Area
Sensed Area
2 ft by 2 ft
Sense, Predict, and Treat Strategy

23. Sensing and Treatment Scale

24. RT200 and RT 500 Specifications
6 sensors on 60+ ft boom
Can readily be mated with existing dry fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia applicators
Fast installation with minimal modifications
System intended for fertilizer only
30 sensor on 60 ft boom
Existing dry fertilizer applicators cannot be used with this system
System custom installed on each manufacturer’s sprayer /boom
Can detect and spray weeds in fallow/no-till as well as apply fertilizer
System can be used for other crops and materials

25. Sense and treat every 2 plants

26. Hagie Sprayer - Corn

27. Weed Spraying with GreenSeeker Applicator

28. GreenSeekerTM N-Fertilizer Handheld Optical Sensor
The same active lighting optical sensor used on the variable rate fertilizer applicator
Optically measures plant biomass, total nitrogen in the crop, and plant stress
Can sample scan a wheat field (or other crop)
Data can use to calculated response index for added nitrogen fertilizer

29. Questions