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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将调查即时伽马中子分析（PGNA）技术的能力，以提供现场地下（0-48英寸）本地化（1平方米分辨率）扫描土壤氮/养分/水浓度和土壤特性的实时精确农业现场测绘。 现有的取样和化学分析实地测绘技术仅提供近地表（6英寸深）的空中稀疏数据。 这允许仅施用粗略定制的追肥。借助高分辨率和深度信息，可以充分优化肥料和土壤使用，以降低成本并最大限度地提高产量。 不使用放射性材料的电子中子发生器和PGNA的元素分析能力的综合效益将产生安全有效的土壤扫描技术。 第一阶段项目的主要目标是使用MCNP建模确定土壤分析仪的预期灵敏度。 这些灵敏度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/商业潜力是减少整体肥料使用，提高植物养分吸收的能力，从而提高产量，导致农业行业每年估计价值80亿美元（基于2008年数据）。 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，并衡量市场接受程度，以确定相对于生产成本可以捕获的该价值的预期比例，以确定商业可行性。 除了货币回报外，减少化肥流失和改善土壤管理将产生环境回报，其形式是使农业更具可持续性和生产力，使每个人受益。

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.