SBIR Phase I: In-Situ Soil Composition Analysis using Neutron Analysis Techniques for Precision Farming Applications

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将调查瞬发伽马中子分析(PGNA)技术的能力，以提供实时的土壤氮/养分/水浓度和土壤属性的原位(0-48英寸)局部(1m2分辨率)扫描，以用于精确的农业田间测绘。现有的采样和化学分析现场测绘技术仅提供近地表(6英寸深度)航空稀疏数据。这就只允许施肥量身定做粗略的追肥。有了高分辨率和深度信息，化肥和土壤的使用可以充分优化，以降低成本，最大限度地提高产量。不使用放射性物质的电子中子发生器和PGNA的元素分析能力相结合的好处将导致安全和有效的土壤扫描技术。该第一阶段项目的主要目标是使用MCNP建模来确定土壤分析仪的预期灵敏度。这些敏感性结果将反过来确定对中子发生器和伽马探测系统的要求。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是减少总体化肥使用，改善植物养分吸收，从而提高产量，从而为农业带来每年80亿美元的估计价值(基于2008年的数据)。第一阶段工作的一个关键方面将是评估基于PGNA的土壤扫描仪的商业可行性，并衡量市场接受度，以确定这一价值相对于生产成本的预期比例，以确定商业可行性。除了金钱回报，化肥径流的减少和更好的土壤管理将产生环境回报，其形式是更可持续和更多产的农业，使每个人都受益。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will investigate the ability of prompt gamma neutron analysis (PGNA) techniques to provide in situ subsurface (0-48 inches) localized (1m2 resolution) scanning of soil nitrogen/nutrient/water concentrations and soil properties in real-time for precision agricultural field mapping. Existing sampling and chemical assay field mapping techniques provide only near-surface (6 inch depth) aerially-sparse data. This allows application of only a coarsely tailored top-dressing of fertilizer. With high-resolution and depth information, fertilizer and soil usage can be fully optimized to reduce cost and maximize yield. The combined benefits of an electronic neutron generator that uses no radioactive material and the elemental analysis capabilities of PGNA would result in a safe and effective soil scanning technology. The primary objective of this Phase I project is to determine the expected sensitivity of the soil analyzer using MCNP modeling. These sensitivity results will, in turn, set the requirements for the neutron generator and gamma-detection systems.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is reduction in overall fertilizer use, ability to improve plant nutrient uptake, and, consequently, higher yields, leading to an estimated value proposition of $8 Billion annually for the agriculture industry (based on 2008 data). A key aspect of Phase I work will be to assess the commercial viability of a PGNA-based soil scanner and gauge market acceptance to determine the expected fraction of this value that can be captured relative to production costs to ascertain commercial feasibility. In addition to monetary returns, reductions in fertilizer run-off and better soil management will yield an environmental payoff in the form of a more sustainable and productive agriculture industry that benefits everyone.