Abstract: A real time soil constituent sensor and precision agricultural chemical delivery system may measure simple in situ soil constituents without the aid of externally applied solvents, or such solvents may be utilized intermittently to calibrate the measurements for greater accuracy. A real time complex in situ soil resistivity sensor and prescription agricultural chemical delivery system includes a plurality of ground-engaging tools in association with individual soil electrode arrays which measure complex solute and matrix resistivity levels. Conventional ground-engaging tools may serve as electrodes for impressing a voltage source and serve as a current sink for the purposes of determining complex resistivity values and components thereof in in situ soils. Alternatively, local resistivity measurements in a single tool can also be employed for separation of resistivity contributions of the soil solute and the matrix.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 29, 1993
Date of Patent:
October 7, 1997
Assignee:
Crop Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
John W. Colburn, Jr., Sylvia A. M. Colburn