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Primary Research Location: Lubbock, TX
Project Title: Testing of Yield Monitors for Cotton Stripper
Project Objectives: Evaluate yield monitors on cotton strippers for effectiveness in predicting yield in fields and their reliability in overall operation.
A. Summary of Progress:
Two cotton strippers were used to test yield monitors during the 2001 harvest season. A John Deere 7445 cotton stripper equipped with a Micro-TrakÒ yield monitor was used to harvest cotton at several TAES sites. The Micro-TrakÒ yield monitor system used is comprised of sensors located on the stripper conveyance ducts, and data logger to monitor cotton flow. Using the processed data from this system, maps can be created showing the relative differences in cotton production across different regions of the field. Cotton harvest began in mid-October and was completed in late-November. This system harvested approximately 375 acres at Texas Agricultural Experiment Station sites including: AG-CARES (100 A irr. and 75 A dry.), Halfway (60 A) and Helms (75 A), and Western Peanut Growers Research farms (65 A). Successful yield maps were created at all locations (Figure 1-7). Hand samples and weigh wagon weights were taken to correlate with the stripper.
The second stripper a John Deere 7455 was equipped with three yield monitors with on system recording data from two locations on the conveying system. Two yield monitors developed by AgriPlan Inc. were utilized. One was mounted on the conveyance duct prior to entering the bur extractor. This unit recorded data for bur cotton prior to any cleaning. A second AgriPlan unit was mounted on the conveying duct between the bur extractor and basket and this recorded data for the field cleaned cotton. A weighing system developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station was tested. Software problems in the system prevented the collection of data during the full season. The third system was developed by Mississippi State University. This system utilizes light bars but it is unique in that the sending and receiving units are installed into one unit and require mounting holes to be cut into only one side of the duct. The unit does not have a display of weights or yield at the time of harvest. A more user-friendly display will be incorporated into the system before next harvest season. This has proven reliable and relatively problem free. Cotton was harvested from approximately 170 acres providing data for processing into maps (Figure 8). Another field test utilized producers’ eight-row strippers on a ¼ mile pivot where hand samples were collected from various locations in the field. These locations were marked with GPS and will be correlated to data collected with the stripper yield monitors.
B. Education/technology transfer: Presentations on utilization and operation of yield monitors were made to 20 producer groups during the year.
C. Milestones achieved: NA
D. Publications: NA
E. Precision agriculture proposals: NA
F. Precision Agriculture meetings attended/papers (posters presented: NA
G. Other developments: Two units are currently available commercially for cotton strippers, AgriPlan and Micro-TrakÒ. A producer who farms approximately 3500 acres of cotton is currently using the AgriPlan system. An updated version will be evaluated in the 2002 harvest season.
Figure 1. AG-CARES 2001 yield map irrigated circle and dryland corners.
Figure 2. AG-CARES 2001 dryland yie map.
Figure 3. Part one of Halfway yield map
Figure 4. Part two of Halfway yield map
Figure 5. Part one of Helms yield map
Figure 6. Part two of Helms yield map
Figure 7. Western Peanut Growers yield map
Figure 8. USDA-ARS yield map of Plant Stress Location
