The On-line Measurement of Seed and fertilizer Level in Drills Hopper using Infrared Method

One of the most important issues in progress and development of agricultural machinery is indebted to being automated. The on-line measurement of seed and granular fertilizer level in drills hopper could be employed in automation of agricultural machinery and equipment. In present study, a near infrared distance-meter sensor was adapted and tested in both laboratory and field conditions. The near infrared distance-meter sensor was first calibrated on three surfaces of wood, iron and soil within 100- 650 mm range in 50 mm increments. Having installed the sensor beneath drill hopper’s door, the static and dynamic evaluation was conducted for wheat grain within 100-450 mm and for triple supper phosphate within 100-250 mm range both in 10 mm increments. The laboratory results revealed that there was a nonlinear correlation with determination coefficient of 0.99 between sensor output and desired distance while it was used on three tested surfaces. Laboratory tests revealed that there was a minimum 100 mm distance limitation in installing the sensor to approach perfection. Calibration results showed that there was a nonlinear correlation with determination coefficient of 0.996 and 0.992 between the sensor output and the distance of wheat seed while it was tested in both static and dynamic conditions. Calibration results also showed that there was a nonlinear correlation with determination coefficient of 0.995 and 0.992 between the sensor output and the distance of fertilizer while it was tested in both static and dynamic conditions. In validation stage, determination coefficients of 0.983 and 0.961 were obtained for establishment of a linear regression between directed measured distance of wheat grain surface and corresponding distance detected by the sensor in static and dynamic conditions, respectively. Also, in validation stage, determination coefficients of 0.995 and 0.961 were obtained for establishment of a linear regression between directed measured distance of fertilizer surface and corresponding distance detected by the sensor in static and dynamic conditions, respectively. Therefore, the near infrared distance-meter sensor was considerably precise in detection of the granular materials’ level in drill hopper and could be applicable for automation of agricultural machinery and implements.