For release: May 27, 1998
Contacts: Feyzi
Inanc, Nondestructive Evaluation, (515) 294-9738
Joe Gray, Nondestructive Evaluation, (515)
294-9737
Susan Dieterle, Ames Lab Public Affairs, (515)
294-1405
AMES, Iowa -- A study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames
Laboratory demonstrates that X-ray technology can provide on-the-spot, accurate
measurement of grain yields.
Ames Lab and Iowa State University (ISU) scientists who conducted the study say X-ray
equipment can be mounted on harvesters to give specific data on how much grain is being
produced on each 5- to 10-meter segment of land -- crucial information for commercial and
research farms using the "precision farming" method. And, the scientists say,
their approach provides a high level of accuracy while eliminating many of the drawbacks
associated with other yield measurement systems.
Precision farming involves building a database about the fertilizer application, weather
conditions, physical treatment and crop yield for each segment of their farmland. Mapping
out this data can show commercial farmers how to get the highest possible yield from
acreage.
A weak link in the precision farming approach is yield measurement, says Feyzi Inanc, a
member of the X-ray group at ISU’s Center
for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE). "The technology for measuring yield is not
mature yet," he says.
Selcuk Arslan, an ISU graduate student in agricultural and biosystems engineering, drew
Inanc’s attention to the yield measurement problem. Inanc, Arslan and Joe Gray, an
Ames Lab scientist who also heads CNDE’s X-ray group, wanted to test whether
techniques from the nondestructive evaluation field -- which focuses primarily on
non-invasive inspection of industrial materials and parts -- would work for yield
measurement.
When preliminary tests using corn indicated a likelihood of success, they applied to the
Ames Lab for $19,500 for a feasibility study. The funds came from the Laboratory Directed
Research and Development Grant program, which was established to provide seed money for
novel ideas in need of testing. Ames Lab Director Tom Barton, who funded the project,
says, "This project allows us to go beyond our traditional scientific boundaries and
fund research in agriculture, an area in which we would like to play a larger role."
Inanc and Gray modified existing technology and came up with a system that allows X-ray
equipment to be mounted on either a harvester or a grain elevator. As the grain passes
through a low-energy X-ray beam on the way to the collection bin, information is relayed
to a computer and translated into yield data. Corn was used in the feasibility study, but
Inanc says the technique will also work with soybeans, potatoes and other crops.
The scientists believe their approach has several benefits. First, the grain doesn’t
come in contact with the measuring device, preventing the buildup of dirt and dust that
could interfere with the equipment’s effectiveness. The technique also has a wide
dynamic range, meaning that the flow rate can vary widely without requiring the equipment
to be recalibrated to adjust for changes in rates.
Also, Inanc says, it is insensitive to the differing moisture content of the grain, which
can be affected by the weather or the time at which the harvesting is done, and retains a
high level of accuracy. "After looking at the numbers from the lab experiments, we
believe that our accuracy is very competitive with other technology on the commercial
market and has fewer drawbacks than the other approaches," he says.
The radiation from the X-ray is low enough that 2-3 millimeters of steel shielding will
protect the equipment operator from exposure, Inanc says, adding that the grain’s
exposure to the X-ray lasts only a fraction of a second and doesn’t pose a radiation
risk.
Inanc and Gray have applied for a patent on their technique and plan to conduct further
studies to explore the continuous operation of the equipment.
The scientists say they enjoyed applying their expertise in nondestructive evaluation to
an unconventional problem. "It is very interesting work because the problem is from
the agricultural field and the solution is from an industrial-oriented discipline,"
Inanc says.
Ames Laboratory is operated for the DOE by ISU. The Lab conducts research into various
areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design,
environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.
Last revision: 6/1/98 sd
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