Automatic fertilizer equipment according to ... needs of plants

Using image processing techniques to fertilize helps to apply the right amount of fertilizer according to the size of the plant: small trees will get more and larger trees will receive less.

In fertilizing crops, adjusting the ratio of fertilizer to a stable level is very difficult. Therefore, researchers are now trying to solve this problem by developing a fertilizer device attached to the tractor, which contains three fertilizers to help farmers fertilize at appropriate rates. . It is known that the theory of fertilizer rate adjustment has been applied to oil palm farms in Germany and Malaysia, and thus, has greatly encouraged researchers at Thai RMUTT University. Lan.

Research leader, Prof. Kiattisak Sangkradit of RMUTT's Agricultural Engineering Division, and his assistant, Suriya Worawong, have successfully researched the correct technology development method to find the right ratio for fertilizer mixing.

GS.Kiattisak Sangkradit of RMUTT's Agricultural Engineering Division, and his assistant, Suriya Worawong, on the automatic fertilizer mixing vehicle.

Using an image system, computer-processed, to calculate the appropriate fertilizer based on the green percentage of the crop. Then, the data is analyzed so that the system calculates and adjusts, reducing the amount of excess fertilizer compared to the adaptation rate and at the same time reducing the cost of sugarcane production.

Using image processing techniques to accurately fertilize sugarcane is an invention that combines agricultural engineering applications, control engineering, electrical-electronic engineering, mechanical engineering and photography. The present invention includes perforated plow teeth for fertilizing soil, fertilizer equipment, fertilizer control boxes, webcams, processors and computers. Webcams take pictures of crop shapes and transmit images to computers.

Then, the microprocessor sends data to the fertilizer box to adjust the amount of fertilizer suitable for each crop or region. The webcam is mounted on the tractor to identify the crop, fertilizer dispenser and fertilizer control box is attached to the back of the tractor to 'execute' the task. The computer is placed inside the tractor to help the operator easily use it.

According to research assistant Suriya Worawong, the device has the advantage of increasing the accuracy of the use of fertilizer handling techniques, helping to properly apply the fertilizer amount according to the size of the plant: small trees will receive More fertilizer and larger trees will get less. In other words, the amount of fertilizer will depend on the needs of the crop.

The images are processed to calculate the size of the crop through an algorithm that has been tested to determine the amount of fertilizer, whether in powder or granular form, area as well as the amount of fertilizer needed. And so this will help reduce fertilizer use as well as reduce the cost of sugarcane production.

Equipment for precise fertilizer application for sugarcane, using image processing techniques of GS. Kiattisak Sangkradit and assistant Suriya Worawong, won the gold medal and special award - Best Civil Engineering Inova - at the International Patent Exhibition 42 Inova-Budi 2017 held in Osijek, Croatia.