Skip to main content
Log in

A Review of Combine Sensors for Precision Farming

  • Published:
Precision Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To maximize economic return from agricultural production units, costs have to be minimized and benefits maximized. For grain, kernel yield and quality have to be maximized while the use of seeds, fertilizer, herbicides and fungicides have to be optimized.

The best location to evaluate productivity levels, by measuring yield and quality of grain and straw, is the combine harvester. Moreover, other grain quality characteristics like density or test weight can be determined for use as an evaluation tool. In this paper, an overview is given of the past and current research toward the evaluation of currently available commercial sensors (e.g., for measuring grain yield and grain moisture content) as well as toward the development of new sensors (e.g., grain protein content and straw yield).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Auernhammer, H., Demmel, M., Muhr, K., Rottmeier J. and Wild, K. 1993. Yield measurements on combine harvesters. ASAE Paper No. 931506.

  • Arslan, S. and Colvin, T. S. 1998. Laboratory test stand for combine grain yield monitors. Applied Enginering in Agriculture, 14(4), 369–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birrell, S. J., Borgelt, S. C. and Sudduth, K. A. 1994. Crop yield mapping: Comparison of yield monitors and mapping techniques. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Congress on Site-Specific Management for Agricultural Systems, edited by P. C. Robert, R. H. Rust and W. E. Larson (ASA-CSSA-SSSA), p. 14–30.

  • Böttinger, S. 1990. Durchsatz-und verlusterfassung für eine regelung der Mähdrescher-Reinigungsanlage. Agrartechnik, Berlin 40 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colvin, T. S. 1990. Automated weighing and moisture sampling for a field-plot combine. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 6(6), 713–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diekhans, N. 1985. Automatisierung am Mähdrescher. Grundl. Landtechnik Bd. 35(4), 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eimer, B. P. 1974. Automatic control of combine treshing process. IFAC Symposium on Automatic Control for Agriculture, Sask, Canada.

  • Engel. R., Long, D. and Carlson, G. 1997. On-the-go protein sensing is near. Better Crops with Plant Food, No. 4, RN 323071/97200 (PPI, Norcross, GA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Famili, A. 1983. Throughput sensors for combine automatic feedrate system. ASAE Meeting Montana ‘83, 26–29 June, Paper 83–1086.

  • Hindryckx, K. and Missotten, B. 1994. Krachten en snelheden van de graanstroom bij een impulsdebietmeter (Eindwerk KU Leuven).

  • Huisman, W. 1982. Optimum cereal combine harvester operation by means of automatic machine and treshing speed control. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University, Wageningen, Nederland, 293 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hummel, J. W., Pfeiffer, D. W. and Miller, N. R. 1995. Sensing grain volumes on individual elevator flights. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Congress on Site-Specific Management for Agricultural Systems, edited by P. C. Robert, R. H. Rust and W. E. Larson, (ASA-CSSA-SSSA), p. 68–86.

  • Kormann, G., Demmel, M. and Auernhammer, H. 1998. Testing stand for yield measurement systems in combine harvesters. Ageng Paper No. 98-A-054.

  • Kützbach, H. D. and Schneider, H. 1997. Scientific challenges of grain harvesting. ASAE Paper No. 97–1080.

  • Missotten, B. 1998. Measurement systems for the mapping and the evaluation of crop production performance. Doctoraatsproefschrift nr. 366 aan de Faculteit Landbouwkundige en Toegepaste Biologische Wetenschappen van de K.U. Leuven.

  • Missotten, B., Strubbe, G. and De Baerdemaeker, J. 1996. Accuracy of grain and straw yield mapping. In: Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Precision Agriculture, Minneapolis, 23–26 June.

  • Murphy, D. P., Schung, E. and Haneklaus, S. 1994. Yield mapping—A guide to improved techniques and strategies. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Congress on Site-Specific Management for Agricultural Systems, edited by P. C. Robert, R. H. Rust, and W. E. Larson (ASA-CSSA-SSSA), p. 32–46.

  • Nakhamkin, G. G., and Mikhailov, M. V. 1960. Automatic controller of loading for a combine harvester. NIAE Translation No. 186 Silsoe, England.

  • Pfeiffer, D. W., Hummel, J. W. and Miller, N. R. 1993. Real-time corn yield sensor. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Paper 93 1013.

  • Reitz, P. and Kutzbach, H. D. 1992. Technische Komponenten für die Erstellung von Ertragskarten während der Getreideernte mit dem Mähdrescher. VDI/MEG Kolloquiumsbericht ‘Ortung und Navigation landwirtschaftlicher Fahrzeuge’ Heft 14, Freising-Weihenstephan, March 5–6, p. 91–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyns, P. 1999. Evaluation of a commercial grain moisture sensor. Internal report.

  • Schrock, M. D., Kuhlman, D. K., Hinnen, R. T., Oard, D. L. and Pringle, J. L., 1995. Sensing grain yield with a triangular elevator. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Congress on Site-Specific Management for Agricultural Systems, edited by P. C. Robert, R. H. Rust and W. E. Larson (ASA-CSSA-SSSA), p. 638–650.

  • Schueller, J., Mailander, M. and Krutz, G. 1982. Combine feedrate sensors. ASAE Paper 82–1577.

  • Searchy, S. W., Schueller, J. K., Bae, Y. H., Borgelt, S. C. and Stout, B. A. 1989. Mapping of spatially variable yield during grain combining. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 32(3), 826–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, J. V., Ambler, B. and Smith, M. P. 1991. Sensing and mapping grain yield variation. Automated Agriculture for the 21st Century, Proceedings of the 1991 Symposium, 16–17 December (ASAE, Chicago, IL), p. 356–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stott, B. L., Borgelt, S. C. and Sudduth, K. A. 1993. Yield determination using an instrumented Claas combine. ASAE Paper 93–1507.

  • Strubbe, G. 1973. Straw conductivity measurement. Internal report.

  • Strubbe, G. 1997. Mechanics of friction compensation in mass flow measurement of bulk solids. Doctoraal Proefschrift Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Faculteit Toegepaste Wetenschappen Departement Werktuigkunde, 370 p.

  • Strubbe, G., Missotten, B., De Baerdemaeker, J. 1996. Performance evaluation of a three-dimensional optical volume flow meter. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 12(4), 403–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R. K., Stone M. L. and Downs, H. W. 1986. Laser based crop density detection. ASAE Paper No. 86–1619.

  • Van Loo, J. 1978. Measuring the moisture content of straw continuously. In: Proceedings of the First International Grain and Forage Harvesting Conference, 25–29 September (ASAE, Iowa).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vansichen, R. and De Baerdemaeker, J. 1992. Measuring the actual cutting width of a combine by means of an ultrasonic distance sensor. Trends in Agricultural Engineering, Prague, 15–18 September, p. 615–621.

  • Vansichen, R. and De Baerdemaeker, J. 1991. Continuous wheat yield measurement on a combine. In: Automated Agriculture for the 21st Century, Proceedings of the 1991 Symposium, 16–17 December (ASAE, Chicago, IL), p. 346–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, E. and Schrock, M. D. 1987. Grain flow measurement with a pivoted auger. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 30(6), 1583–1586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wild, K. and Auernhammer, H. 1998. Field and lab tests of sensors for cutting width measurements at the header of combines. Ageng paper No. 98-A-145.

  • Wright, S. L. and Hood, C. F. 1998. Near infrared spectrometer used in combination with a combine for real time grain analysis. USA Patent no. 5.751.421.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reyns, P., Missotten, B., Ramon, H. et al. A Review of Combine Sensors for Precision Farming. Precision Agriculture 3, 169–182 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013823603735

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013823603735

Navigation