Improving wild blueberry crop productivity using precision agriculture technologies

利用精准农业技术提高野生蓝莓作物生产力

• 批准号: 506338-2016
• 负责人: Zaman, Qamar
• 金额: $ 5.83万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=618125
• 关键词: Improving; wild; blueberry; crop; productivity

The overall objective of the proposed initiative is to replace the current uniform management practices with innovative precision agriculture (PA) technologies for spot-application of agrochemicals in wild blueberry cropping systems. Currently, the wild blueberry producers spend as much as $868 CAD per ha per year on agrochemical applications. This equates to $80 million CAD per year with 93,000 ha in production in North America. The implementation of reliable and affordable PA technologies for spot-applications developed by the PA team at Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Dalhousie University (DAL-AC) through this research project will reduce agrochemical usage, improve berry yield and reduce environmental risks. The proposed research also contains the training of graduate students and research associates, and the continuing "life long" applied education of producers and industry representatives. To achieve this, innovative viable PA technologies required include; (i) development of a working prototype compact smart sprayer for spot-application of herbicide and fungicide; (ii) identification of the retro-fitting potential and compatibility of the developed sensing and control system on the commercially available sprayers (John Deere, Agco, Hardy and MS sprayers); (iii) evaluations of the different light sources for spot-application of agrochemical during early morning and late evening; (iv) development of working prototype of VR spreader for spot-application of fertilizer; and (v) quantify the potential of spot-applications to improve crop productivity and environmental efficiency as compare to uniform application of agrochemicals. This project aims to develop a viable working prototype smart sprayer and fertilizer spreader for the implementation of spot-specific applications to increase farm profitability. This proposal is part of a multidisciplinary research effort at the Dal-AC in collaboration with Slack Farms, Debert, NS. Implementation of PA technologies will increase crop productivity and profit margins of Slack Farms as well as the wild blueberry industry as a whole. The smart sprayer and fertilizer spreader will be commercialized with the help of industry to accomplish spot-applications at famer's scale.

拟议计划的总体目标是用创新的精确农业（PA）技术代替当前的统一管理实践，以在野生蓝莓种植系统中的农业化学物质进行点施用。目前，野生蓝莓生产商每年在农业化学应用上花费高达每年868亿美元。这相当于每年8000万美元的加油，北美的生产93,000公顷。通过该研究项目，在达尔豪西大学（Dalhousie University）Dalhousie农业校园（DAL-AC）的PA团队开发的可靠PA技术实施可靠且负担得起的PA技术，将减少农业化学使用，提高浆果产量并降低环境风险。拟议的研究还包含对研究生和研究伙伴的培训，以及持续的“寿命”应用教育对生产者和行业代表的教育。为了实现这一目标，需要创新的可行PA技术包括： （i）开发工作原型紧凑型智能喷雾器，以涂上除草剂和杀菌剂的斑点； （ii）在市售喷雾器上鉴定开发的感应和控制系统的复古拟合潜力和兼容性（John Deere，Agco，Hardy和MS喷雾器）； （iii）在清晨和傍晚对不同光源的不同光源进行评估； （iv）开发VR播放器的工作原型，用于肥料的点涂； （v）与农业化学物质的统一应用相比，量化了点施用的潜力，以提高作物生产率和环境效率。该项目旨在开发可行的工作原型智能喷雾器和肥料散布器，以实施特定于现货的应用以提高农场的盈利能力。该提案是与NS Debert Slack Farms合作在DAL-AC进行多学科研究工作的一部分。 PA技术的实施将提高农作物的生产率和松弛农场的利润率以及整个野生蓝莓行业。智能喷雾器和肥料散布机将在行业的帮助下进行商业化，以在名人的规模上完成现场应用。