Planning and implementing agricultural measures

Abstract

The present invention relates to the planning and implementation of agricultural measures using remote sensing data and local field data. Using remote sensors, the total required amount and partial-area-specific required amounts of plant protection agents and/or nutrients and/or seeds and/or the like can be determined, and based on this information, the use of an application device can be planned. Using local field sensors, the current local required amounts in the field are determined so that the application device can apply the corresponding amounts as required.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving at least one digital image of a field for crop plants, wherein the at least one digital image has been generated by one or a plurality of remote sensors;   planning a partial-area-specific agricultural measure in the field based on the digital image of the field and providing partial-area-specific implementation of the measure; and   carrying out the measure, wherein during the implementation of the measure by one or a plurality of sensors, one or a plurality of current local parameters is/are recorded over the field, and implementation of the measure is continuously adapted to the current local parameter(s),   wherein the sensor(s) cover(s) an area in the environment of an apparatus for implementing the agricultural measure and the one or plurality of field sensor(s) move(s) independently from at least one application device through the field and/or over the field.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein planning of the partial-area-specific agricultural measure comprises:
 determining, based on the digital image and a plant growth model, a requirement of at least a portion of the field and/or the cultivated crop plants for one or a plurality of agricultural measures selected from the following list: cultivating the soil, application of seeds, treatment with one or a plurality of plant protection agents, application of nutrients, and watering;   determining the total amount required to meet the determined requirement, wherein the total amount is determined based on the at least one digital image; and   providing implementation of the agricultural measure based on the total amount determined.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein planning of the partial-area-specific agricultural measure further comprises:
 determining the partial-area-specific amounts required to meet the determined requirement.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein planning of the partial-area-specific agricultural measure further comprises:
 specifying the route of one or a plurality of apparatuses through or over the field for implementing the agricultural measure based on the total amount determined and/or the partial-area-specific required amounts.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a satellite image. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein a pest infestation has been detected or a pest infestation is imminent in the field and there is therefore a requirement for treatment with a plant protection agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein a nutrient deficit has been detected or a nutrient deficit has been predicted in the field, and there is therefore a requirement for treatment with one or a plurality of nutrients. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein there is a requirement for spreading seeds in the field. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the partial-area-specific required amount depends on the amount of biomass present in the field, which is preferably derived based on a vegetation index from the at least one digital image. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the partial-area-specific required amount depends on the size of the leaf areas present, which is preferably derived from a leaf area index from the at least one digital image. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein based on the partial-area-specific required amounts, a digital application map is prepared, which is updated and/or refined using the local parameters in implementing the agricultural measure. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one digital image of the field is used to predict the state of the field for the period of the planned agricultural measure, wherein the predicted state is used to plan the agricultural measure. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a first computer system configured to:
 receive at least one digital image of a field for crop plants, wherein the at least one digital image has been generated using one or a plurality of remote sensors; 
 provide user support, based on the digital image of the field, in planning a partial-area-specific agricultural measure in the field, wherein the computer system determines means that must be provided for the partial-area-specific implementation of the measure; and 
   a second computer system configured to:
 determine the current local state of the field in implementation of the measure by means of one or a plurality of sensors and adapts implementation of the measure to the current local state, wherein the sensor(s) cover(s) an area in the environment of an apparatus for implementing the agricultural measure and the one or plurality of field sensor(s) move(s) independently from at least one application device through the field and/or over the field. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one application device, which is configured such that it moves through and/or over the field while applying the current local required amounts, and/or at least one sensor for detecting local conditions in the field. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second computer system component is the at least one application device and/or the at least one sensor moves in and/or over the field together with the at least one application device.