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: Farooque, Aitazaz
• 金额: $ 5.83万
• 依托单位: University of Prince Edward Island
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=692166
• 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.

该倡议的总体目标是用创新的精准农业（PA）技术取代目前的统一管理实践，在野生蓝莓种植系统中点施农用化学品。目前，野生蓝莓生产商每年每公顷在农药应用上的支出高达 868 加元。这相当于每年 8,000 万加元，北美产量为 93,000 公顷。达尔豪西大学达尔豪斯农业校区 (DAL-AC) 的 PA 团队通过该研究项目开发了可靠且经济实惠的 PA 点施技术，将减少农用化学品的使用，提高浆果产量并降低环境风险。拟议的研究还包括对研究生和研究员的培训，以及对生产者和行业代表的持续“终身”应用教育。为了实现这一目标，所需的创新可行的 PA 技术包括： (i) 开发用于点施除草剂和杀菌剂的紧凑型智能喷雾器工作原型； (ii) 确定所开发的传感和控制系统在商用喷雾器（John Deere、Agco、Hardy 和 MS 喷雾器）上的改造潜力和兼容性； (iii) 清晨和傍晚点施农用化学品的不同光源的评价； (iv) 开发用于点施肥料的 VR 撒肥机工作原型； (v) 与统一施用农用化学品相比，量化点施用提高作物生产力和环境效率的潜力。该项目旨在开发一种可行的工作原型智能喷雾机和施肥机，用于实施特定地点的应用，以提高农场的盈利能力。该提案是 Dal-AC 与新斯科舍省德伯特 Slack Farms 合作开展的多学科研究工作的一部分。 PA 技术的实施将提高 Slack Farms 以及整个野生蓝莓产业的作物生产力和利润率。智能喷雾机和施肥机将借助产业化实现商业化，实现农户规模的定点施肥。