Integrative Precision Agriculture
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This publication provides information on pulse width modulation (PWM) technology including its working principle, components, benefits, and best management practices for its optimal utilization on agricultural sprayers. Agricultural sprayers are commonly used for pesticide applications and come in various design types and sizes, including three-point hitch, pull-behind, and self-propelled. During pesticide applications, maintaining a target application rate across the whole field is important for effective pest management. On sprayers with traditional flow-based control systems, the liquid flow rate is regulated to account for ground speed variations by adjusting the spray pressure. However, this becomes an issue when spray pressure reaches outside the narrow operating range of the selected nozzle and results in non-uniform droplet size and pattern. Higher spray pressures at faster travel speeds produce finer droplets which are more prone to spray drift; applications at lower pressures produce coarser spray droplets and reduce spray fan angle. Pulse width modulation technology was developed to overcome this pressure variation issue; pulse width modulation does not rely on spray pressure to regulate system flow rate with changes in ground speed. In pulse width modulation systems, the flow rate is varied by changing the intermittent cycling of the electronically actuated solenoid valves while the system pressure remains constant throughout the boom.
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In commercial poultry houses, bird density and distribution in drinking, feeding, and
resting zones are critical factors for evaluating flock productivity, bird health, and well-being. Proper distribution of chickens in the house greatly influences animal well-being and house environmental management. Currently, routine daily inspection of broiler flock distribution in commercial grow-out houses is done manually, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming. UGA poultry science researchers currently are developing an automated imaging system for monitoring floor distribution of chickens.Ongoing studies are focusing on detection of individual chickens with different gait scores in the research facility. It’s challenging to track individual birds with early health or welfare concerns using a computer vison-based method, but it is necessary and critical for producers to identify birds with well-being concerns and address those issues quickly.
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Boom sprayer calibration using conventional methods (catching flow for certain time or distance) for large (60-90 ft; 54-72 nozzles) boom sprayers can be a time-consuming process. This short publication outlines steps to take to verify nozzle output and calibrate a boom sprayer, including tables with useful information on flow rates at multiple speeds for two common nozzle spacings and an equation for calculating rates if needed.
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This publication is the second in a series focusing on irrigation scheduling for vegetable crops. It contains basic guidance on water use and irrigation management for Brassica crops such as cabbage, leafy greens, broccoli, and cauliflower, and this information should assist growers in scheduling irrigation.
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Some of the most widely adopted precision agriculture technologies include guidance systems that utilize a Global Positioning System (GPS). Although these technologies are most commonly utilized in row-crop agricultural systems, they also have many potential benefits in forage-based production systems. With so many different options to choose from, it can be a daunting task to determine which technologies are the best fit for a specific farming application and budget. When coupled with a differential GPS system (which are available in various levels of correction accuracy), the accuracy of these guidance systems can be greatly improved. The main goal of this bulletin is to cover the currently available GPS guidance options for forage production systems.
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While site-specific soil sampling can improve field management, it must be accompanied by the conscientious collection and analysis of data. The new technologies that have elevated precision agriculture into the forefront of farm management cannot offset poor data collection and soil-testing techniques. Inaccurate data on soil properties will inevitably lead to improper management decisions.
This bulletin addresses three primary factors that can affect the precision management of soil fertility: 1) collecting proper soil-sample cores and the consequences of improper soil sampling, 2) breaking the field into smaller management areas, and 3) differences in test results and recommended application rates between soil-test laboratories. A step-by-step procedure is then presented on how to use variabl e yield goals to develop field maps showing variable application rates o f fertilizers and lime.
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The UGA EASY (Evaporation-based Accumulator for Sprinkler-enhanced Yield) Pan Irrigation Scheduler is designed to provide in-field monitoring of crop water needs in humid areas for a fraction of the management time and cost associated with other irrigation scheduling methods. If a farmer is not currently using a more sophisticated irrigation scheduling method, this unit is a simplified, low cost alternative. The UGA EASY Pan Irrigation Scheduler is designed to help you keep track of when your next application is needed, so you can avoid applying too much or too little water. The overall goal is to be more efficient in the use of irrigation water.
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Transplanting is the process in which seedlings are transferred from a specific place where they were sown to the soil where they will develop and produce. This process is an extremely important step in fruit and vegetable production as it helps with the initial establishment of the crop. Mechanical transplanters have emerged as important agricultural machines for farmers, and are designed to automate and optimize the transplanting process.
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This circular contains the fundamentals of watermelon irrigation scheduling using the crop water demand method. Decisions regarding the timing, frequency, and amount of water required for a crop are some of the most critical factors in vegetable production. There are numerous irrigation scheduling strategies employed by growers, but the crop water demand method of irrigation management is one of the most reliable and precise ways to schedule irrigation. This method adjusts irrigation events using the crop evapotranspiration, or ETc.
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