System and method for remote nitrogen monitoring and prescription

Abstract

A method and system for managing nitrogen applied by nitrogen application equipment to a geographic region includes determining a growth stage for the geographic region using a crop module, and determining a nitrogen change for the geographic region based on the growth stage using a nitrogen change module, which can additionally or alternatively include determining an amount of nitrogen initially available for a geographic region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for managing nitrogen within a geographic region, the method comprising:
 a) receiving a first image of the geographic region, the first image associated with a first time;   b) determining a first growth stage at the first time for plants within the geographic region based on the first image using a first crop module;   c) determining a first nitrogen change for the geographic region based on the first growth stage using a nitrogen change module;   d) estimating a first nitrogen availability for the geographic region at the first time based on the first nitrogen change;   e) repeating b) to d) for a second nitrogen availability for the geographic region at a second time based on a second nitrogen change and the first nitrogen availability;   f) determining a nitrogen prescription for the geographic region based on the second nitrogen availability using a nitrogen prescription module; and   g) generating first control instructions based on the nitrogen prescription, wherein nitrogen application equipment applies nitrogen according to the first control instructions.