Dynamic Crop Height Measurement for N Management

The use of Nitrogen fertilizers in moderation can promote plant growth and boost crop yield, while in excess it can be harmful to the plant and the environment. By developing a system that can accurately capture the height of plants in a field, we can compare the rate of growth of different crops in response to N treatment and find the optimal time and amount of N to apply. An array of laser diodes paired with photoresistors will simulate a gate of light and through programming we can detect if the gates are either closed or open. This system works well in a controlled environment but in a natural environment, reflections from other surfaces and on a particularly bright day when there is a lot of natural light, are challenging. Throughout the 10 weeks of summer we will test new methods to improve sensor data.