Site-specific nitrogen fertilization is one of the main objectives in precision agriculture. The nitrogen sensor consists of a dual-channel AvaSpec spectrometer, fibre optics and processing electronics mounted in a blue cap on top of a tractor.
Monitoring fertilization concentration on the go
Measuring and applying the appropriate levels of fertilization on crops can be a time-consuming activity. This is what the Yara system was designed to facilitate. Featuring a dual-channel AvaSpec series spectrometer, fibre optics and processing electronics mounted in a blue box on top of a tractor, the system makes real-time measurements of the optical appearance of crops and intelligently applies fertilizers accordingly.
Relevant for the fertilization is the level or nitrogen in a crop, which is measured by means of reflection spectroscopy. In the visible range (380-740 nm) the reflection is an indication of the leaf chlorophyll content, in the NIR range (700-1000 nm) reflectance is mainly affected by the crop’s biomass.
Included with the Yara system is a terminal for real-time monitoring. A special viewing geometry and integrated irradiance correction guarantees accurate measurements. The system logs crop and GPS data on a on-board data card.
Related Pages
Find out about more agricultural applications for spectroscopy in the pages below: