Crop Yield Estimation

Graduate student Qiang Li is using a corn sheller to thresh corns.

After threshing, Qiang is measuring the corn weight and moisture for yield estimation.

Installation of Soil Moisture Sensors

The SDI-12 Hydra Probe II soil moisture sensors have been installed in Burkland Farms, Grand Forks County on November 9, 2015. The sensing system measures soil moisture, electrical conductivity and temperature at surface (0-5 inches) and below at seven depths (5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 inches). The CR1000 datalogger of Campbell Scientific, Inc. with a 12V battery and a 20W solar panel reads signals and stores data.

Undergraduate Research Presentation at NDSU Explore

Anne Gatzke of our group is presenting her research at NDSU Explore, an annual event celebrating the scholarly accomplishments of NDSU undergraduate students on November 3, 2015. The tittle of her poster is "Impact of Various Mulches on Sweet Corn Germination, Plant Growth, and Yield".

Ditch Water Quality and Flow Survey

Dr. Xinhua Jia and her research group are doing the water quality and flow survey along the field ditch. The water quality parameters,  such as nitrate, phosphate, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH and temperature are measured and the water flow is estimated. Water samples are also collected for further lab analysis.

Measuring Surface Runoff in the Field

A Greyline Stingray portable level-velocity logger is used to measure the real-time water flow discharging from the culvert to the ditch. 

PhD. student Debjit Roy and freshman Connor Yaggie are launching the program of the water level logger. The Onset HOBO water level logger was set up next to the culvert on the field side.

Eddy Covariance System in the Field

Eddy covariance system is also set up along the soil moisture sensors in the same field. It provides data to estimate the evapotranspiration (ET). Dr. Xinhua Jia is showing ABEN freshman Connor Yaggie how to download the data from the Campbell Scientific CR3000 datalogger after installation of the system.

Measuring Soil Moisture in the Field

The Stevens Hydra Probe II soil moisture and salinity sensors are used to measure soil moisture, electrical conductivity and temperature at 7 depths below the surface, i.e., 5 cm, 15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, 60 cm, 75 cm and 90 cm. The soil moisture and other parameters are measured at two sites, on the tile and in-between tiles.

ABEN freshman Connor Yaggie is pushing the sensors into the soil and PhD. student Debjit Roy is taking soil samples along the sensors.

Campbell Scientific CR1000 datalogger is used to collect data. A 12V battery with a 10W solar panel provide power consumed by the datalogger and sensors.

Infiltration Test in Frozen Soil

PhD. student Debjit Roi started the infiltration test in frozen soil. This experiemnt will be carried out in our lab, of which the moisture and tempertaure of the frozen soil are monitored and controlled.

Maintaining Three Wireless Weather Stations in the Fields

The wireless weather station in a subsurface irrigation (SI) field. It measures photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air relative humidity (RH) and temperature, rainfall and soil moisture and temperature at 5 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm below surface.

The wireless weather station in a free drainage (FD) field. It measures photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air relative humidity (RH) and temperature, rainfall and soil moisture and temperature at 5 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm below surface or wind direction and speed.

The wireless weather station in a undrained (UD) field. It measures photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air relative humidity (RH) and temperature, wind direction and speed, gust speed and soil moisture and temperature at 5 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm below surface.

Effects of Waterlogging on Wheat Seed Germination

The waterlogging experiment has been carried out in a greenhouse. There are one regular planting as control and four plantings waterlogging treated of one, three, five and seven days respectively. Six different types of wheat seeds have been planted in each tote.

The oxygen level in the water has been monitored by a CS511-L dissolved oxygen sensor with a CR1000 datalogger, both from Campbell Scientific, Inc.

The plant comparison of control and waterlogging treatment is shown above. The control is in the leftmost. To the right, the plants are waterlogging treated of one, three, five and seven days respectively. 

Agricultural Survey Measuring Soil Salinity

A Geonics EM38-MK2 Ground Conductivity Meter was tested in the field.

The ground conductivity mapping was implemented using a customized EM38-MK2 system as shown above. The signals were transmitted to and recorded in a Trimble Juno 3 Series Handheld GPS for further analysis.

Estimating Crop Yields

Dr. Xinhua Jia and PhD. student Debjit Roy harvested soybean for yield estimation.

Graduate student Hannah Bye used Mini GAC Plus Tester to measure the moisture and test weight for yield estimation.

Maintaining Sensors in the Field

PhD student Debjit Roy checked the current sensor and downloaded data. The current sensor is used to monitor the drainage and irrigation flow.