Micro-sonic sensor technology enables enhanced grass height measurement by a Rising Plate Meter

McSweeney, D. and Coughlan, N. E. and Cuthbert, R. N. and Halton, P. and Ivanov, S. (2019) Micro-sonic sensor technology enables enhanced grass height measurement by a Rising Plate Meter. Information Processing in Agriculture, 6 (2). pp. 279-284. ISSN 2214-3173

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Abstract

Globally, the Rising Plate Meter (RPM) is a device used to measure compressed sward height, to enable estimation of herbage mass. Despite improved farm management practices aided by a variety of technological advances, the standard design of a RPM has remained relatively unchanged. Recently, however, a RPM utilising a micro-sonic sensor, with digital data capture capability via a Bluetooth communications link to a smart device application, has been developed. Here, we assess the comparable ability of both a standard cumulative ratchet counter RPM and the micro-sonic sensor RPM, to accurately and precisely measure fixed heights. Moreover, as correct allocation of grazing area requires accurate geolocation positioning, we assess the associated GPS technology. The micro-sonic sensor RPM was significantly more accurate for height capture than the cumulative ratchet counter RPM. Overall, across all heights, the cumulative ratchet counter RPM underestimated height by 7.68 ± 0.06 mm (mean ± SE). Alternatively, the micro-sonic sensor RPM overestimated height by 0.18 ± 0.08 mm. In relation to a practical applications, these discrepancies can result in an under- and overestimation of dry matter yield by 13.71% and 0.32% kilograms per hectare, respectively. The performance of the on-board GPS did not significantly differ from that of a tertiary device. Overall, the wireless technology, integrated mapping, and decision support tools offered by the innovative micro-sonic sensor RPM provides for a highly efficacious grassland management tool.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Publisher Copyright: © 2018 China Agricultural University
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1107
Departments or Groups:
Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2022 23:02
Last Modified:	30 Jun 2023 00:50
URI:	http://repository-testing.wit.ie/id/eprint/3675

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