Enhancement of precision agriculture strategy for potato production using advanced sensing and automation techniques

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Potato production is one of the biggest global food industries with an annual potato production of approximately 388 million tonnes in 2017. In Canada, potato is the largest vegetable crop. Home for big potato processing companies including McCain Foods Limited, Canadian exports of processed potatoes in 2015/2016 reached $1.32 billion. However, increasing worldwide consumption, increased global competition for markets, and growing challenges in maintaining competitive production under changing climate, mean more effort is required to maintain local business. This research aims to contribute to the efforts of improving potato productivity by addressing issues that growers and producers face. We plan to apply precision agriculture technique on two field operations: planting and spraying. Precise monitoring of seed placement provides feedback of the planting process and allows implementing correcting measures to achieve more equally spaced planting. We plan to develop a new sensing technology to create seed maps that shows lack of seeds and/or double seeds at any location. Homogeneous distribution of seeds means more marketable produce at competitive price for the grower, and less waste at the processing factory. Likewise, we will develop sensing systems and design mechanical modifications on self-propelled sprayer to enable variable rate application during the growing season. Efficient variable rate technology means maintaining the same yield while reducing production cost. We plan to introduce mechanical modifications using market available sensors and equipment so that variable rate spraying of pesticides and herbicides is carried out successfully in the field. The impact of such development will be economic as well as environmental. Reducing the amount of chemicals sprayed on plants will save soil and water from unnecessary contamination. This will also maintain efficacy of pesticides and herbicides for longer periods. Maintaining marketable yield will support the economy and social structure in rural areas and provide income to Canada through the export of frozen and processed potatoes.