Precision Sensing to Reduce Pollution

By Kody Moore

Water pollution

• Fertilizer runoff is a problem in many parts of the country in our rivers and streams.

• Discharge from factories, refineries, etc.• Chicken and hog farm waste• Fertilizer leaches through to water tables

Eutrophication

• Eutrophication is increased nutrient input into water that exceeds the normal amount.

• The available dissolved oxygen is then used by organisms that break down these nutrients.

• These organisms lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available to other marine species (fish, aquatic plants, etc.)

Fish Kills

Oxygen sag curve

Point vs. Non-point sources

• Point source pollution– The source of the pollution can be found

• Non-point source pollution– The source of the pollution cannot be found

The Nitrogen Cycle

Solution?

• Precision sensing could be part of the solution to the fertilizer loss/pollution problem.– It has to be accessible to farmers.

• Easy to use (easier then random soil sampling)• The farmer has to benefit (more money)

Types of Precision Sensors

• Weedseeker-– Cuts weed control costs by 80%.– Reduces environmental impact.

• Greenseeker-– Average profit of $8.00 an acre.

• Protimeter Grainmaster i-– Measures the moisture and temperature of crops.

Types of Sensors cont.

• IRROMETER tensiometer-– Provides soil moisture measurements– “prevention of groundwater pollution”

• PM-48MB Photosynthesis Monitor-– Monitors CO2 exchange

Post Sensing

• Next something has to be done to interpret this information to the farmer. – The SBNRC (Sensor Based Nitrogen Rate

Calculator)• This turns the Numbers off of the Greenseeker into

numbers the farmer can use.• Then goes a step further and gives the farmer a

fertilizer recommendation.

Conclusion

• Fertilizer pollution is one of many causes of water pollution which affects everybody in the world.

• The reduction of fertilizer use would benefit the farmer in most cases.

• Precision sensors can help the farmers make fertilizer, and irrigation rate recommendations.

Questions???

• Dedicated to the restoration of the “infamous Ranger”!

Literature cited

• AgriStore Online. "PM-48MB photosynthesis monitor." Agricultural sensors, monitors, dendrometers. May 2002. 12 April 2007. http://www.agrisupportonline.com/store/Phytech/technical_data/pm-48mb.htm

• Center for ecology & hydrology. "Freshwater pollution." 24 january 2007. NERC. 4 April 2007. <http://schools.ceh.ac.uk/advanced/freshpoll/freshpoll_fig3.htm>.

• Cornell University. "Increasing Nitrogen Pollution In Nation's." Science Daily. 27 February 2005. 4 April 2007. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223140534.htm>.

• "IRROMETER Co." n.d. 12 April 2007. <http://www.irrometer.com/agcat.htm>.• New Hampshire Department of Dnvironmental Science. "Lake Biology." 1995. 4 April

2007. <http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-3.htm>.• Ntech industries. "Webseeker." 2007. 12 April 2007.

<http://www.ntechindustries.com/weedseeker-home.html>.• Phytech technologies. "Phytomonitoring." n.d. 12 April 2007.

http://www.agrisupportonline.com/phy/introduction.html• "Protimeter grainmaster i." General electric company. 2006. April 4, 2007.

<http://www.gesensing.com/products/prot_graini.htm>.