Presently, The Ohio State University is actively engaged in the advancement of farming technology, courtesy of the support from the Ohio Soybean Check-off. This initiative is driving the development of pioneering solutions that will have a transformative impact on agricultural practices in the coming years. The utilization of Artificial Intelligence, Scouting Drones, and advancements in sprayer tip selection are among the key areas being pursued with the assistance of the Ohio Soybean Check-off, aimed at delivering practical benefits to farmers throughout the state.
Dr. Erdal Ozkan, a distinguished Professor within the Department of Agricultural Engineering at The Ohio State University, is directing his efforts towards minimizing pesticide usage and drift, while simultaneously enhancing the efficacy of sprayer applications through careful selection of spray tips. His research encompasses the evaluation of row spacing and plant population to ensure the attainment of optimal spray coverage. Dr. Ozkan’s specific objective is to mitigate spray drift issues and improve application efficiency, with particular emphasis on addressing disease and insect pressure concentrated in the lower part of the canopy.
Concurrently, Dr. Sami Khanal, an accomplished Assistant Professor within the same department, is dedicated to exploring the potential of UAV-based remote sensing technology as a solution for simplifying insect and disease scouting, particularly in the challenging conditions of late July and early August. Her work entails the utilization of UAVs to accurately assess soybean defoliation by insects, and the development of models to correlate aerial observations with actual field damage, ultimately resulting in a significant conservation of time and resources, all while ensuring the protection of yield.
Moreover, the deployment of remote sensing technologies such as satellites and drones presents an invaluable and cost-effective method for monitoring cover crop health across various spatial scales. Dr. Khanal’s research harnesses this technology to identify conditions that are conducive to maximizing cereal rye cover crop biomass, thereby promoting both soil health and agricultural productivity. The data collected serves as a crucial resource for estimating cereal rye cover crop biomass and nutrient composition, with the ultimate aim of generating detailed spatial maps to pinpoint areas with high and low biomass that directly correlate with soybean productivity.
Furthermore, Dr. Khanal’s investigation into drone-based solutions is geared towards identifying specific factors that contribute to high soybean yields, with the overarching goal of developing AI models and support tools to aid farmers in decision-making based on cover crop biomass maps. This comprehensive approach integrates data from drones and ground scouting, providing farmers with the necessary resources to create precise planting prescription maps and management directives.
It is evident that The Ohio State University is at the vanguard of agricultural technological advancement, with esteemed researchers such as Dr. Ozkan and Dr. Khanal leading the way in the development of innovative solutions that are poised to revolutionize farming practices in the near future. The collaborative efforts and groundbreaking achievements at the university are propelling the industry forward, with the Ohio Soybean Check-off playing an instrumental role in the funding of these crucial projects. Stay tuned for more thrilling developments as the technology of tomorrow takes shape today.
+ There are no comments
Add yours