Determining crop residue cover with electronic image analysis

Authors

Elbert C. Dickey, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
David P. Shelton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
G.E. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
K.T. Fairbanks, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

1989

Citation

Proceedings Of The Eleventh International Congress On Agricultural Engineering, Dublin, 4-8 September 1989, pp. 3056-3064.

Comments

Copyright 1989 A.A. Balkema Publishers. Used by permission.

Abstract

Crop residue management is one of the best and most efficient soil conservation methods available to farmers. Determinations of the percentage of the soil surface covered with crop residue are often needed for: soil conservation research; erosion control demonstrations; and maintaining compliance with federal, state, or local soil conservation regulations. A number of methods can be used to estimate residue cover, however, many have limitations. To help overcome some of these limitations, a technique, which uses readily-available microcomputer-related hardware and standard video camera equipment has been developed to estimate crop residue cover from photographic slides. This procedure is relatively rapid, provides consistent results, eliminates the tedious nature of the standard photographic grid determination method, and has given excellent correlation with this standard technique.