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- Page 1 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual OPERATION MANUAL for the Yara N-Sensor Software release 3.10 © 2005-2009 YARA GmbH & Co. KG Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 1 of 64...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Data retrieval and batch processing ................. 56 Task preparation....................... 57 Using task specific presets ...................... 61 Enabling the task specific presets feature ................ 61 Task preparation....................... 62 Operating the N-Sensor with task presets................ 63 Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 2 of 64... -
Page 3: Preface
Yara. Neither can Yara take over any liability for im- proper use and application of the Yara N-Sensor, nor for any proce- dures not described in this manual. -
Page 4: General Issues
Operation Manual General issues Scope of this document This manual describes the operation of the N-Sensor software. It does not cover hard- ware nor software installation issues. If there are questions regarding installation please contact your local service partner. As the software handles various platforms (terminals, operating systems, GPS receiv- ers, variable-rate controllers) there may be various platform- or device-specific issues. -
Page 5: System Operation
Buttons and menus Generally, the menu structure and the size of the buttons is designed to do the stan- dard N-Sensor operation by touching the screen with bare fingertips, even on small Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 5 of 64... - Page 6 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual displays. A pen is only required for more sophisticated settings that are usually made only once and left untouched afterwards. In menus, list items can be selected by successively pressing the menu key several times until the desired setting appears on the menu button: Numeric entries are edited by pressing the menu button.
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Page 7: The Work Screen
ÄÉǛ button. The work screen When the N-Sensor program is started, it will first display the work screen. This screen contains all relevant information that is required for successful operation of the N- Sensor. Depending on the selected operation mode (see section 5), the work screen may look slightly different from what is shown below, but the general structure will be the same. - Page 8 This rate will be sent to the spreader controller and will be logged in the N-Sensor log-file as soon as the Start button is pressed. Be aware that the rate unit may depend on the operation mode.
- Page 9 Low light level: For passive N-Sensors, the actual irradiance is too low to receive a suitable signal from the N-Sensor optics. As soon as irradiance conditions improve, the icon will disappear automatically. For active N-Sensors, this icon indicates that a too low amount of arti- ficial light is reflected into the N-Sensor optics.
- Page 10 It cannot be started until a valid license code has been entered. To enter the code, touch the padlock or select License in the N-Sensor menu (see section 3.2). The 8-digit license code can be ob- tained from the local service partner.
- Page 11 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual tor nor log any data. Depending on the type of N-Sensor, application rates may still be processed and displayed continuously. One green moving indicator: The system is currently active. In this mode, the N-Sensor continuously measures and displays the applica- tion rate, sends the rate to the fertilizer distributor and logs data to the selected task.
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Page 12: Alarms And Warnings
No connection to N-Sensor: The connec- tion to the N-Sensor is lost. Either the N- Sensor is not working properly or the con- nection itself is faulty. Eventually the N- Sensor is not powered properly. - Page 13 It is strongly recommended to finish N-Sensor work as soon as possible. Wrong growth stage: An agronomic cali- bration function is not available for the se- lected combination of Crop type and Growth stage.
- Page 14 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Biomass cutoff: (N-application only) The average sensor value on the reference area is close to or lower than the Biomass cutoff entered in the Agronomic calibration menu. The cutoff value should be reduced or an- other, more representative reference area should be chosen.
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Page 15: Main Menu
Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Main menu Generally, to work with the N-Sensor, you only need to go through the main menu bar from top to bottom: The Setup menu makes some general settings to the spreader or sprayer, the N- Sensor, the GPS receiver and the program itself (see section 3). -
Page 16: Setting Up The System
Setup button in the main menu bar. The following menu appears: The Back button will get you back to the main menu bar on the work screen. Pressing Close program will quit the N-Sensor program. Application device submenu Press the Application device... -
Page 17: N-Sensor Submenu
Signal delay: The application rate calculated by the N-Sensor usually has to be de- layed several seconds before it is sent to the controller in order to match the scanned and the treated area. -
Page 18: System Menu
(section 5) will be different. For default operation, N-application must be se- lected. License: To unlock the N-Sensor software, an 8-digit license code needs to be entered at this position. Usually, your local service personnel will provide and enter this code. - Page 19 It is recommended that a drive or a path is selected that belongs to an (external) flash card. This will allow to easily move files to and from the N-Sensor and will protect the data from unwanted loss if the computer crashes.
- Page 20 N-Sensor computer properly. Satellites: Number of satellites currently used for position calculation Age: Age of the last valid dataset received by the N-Sensor software. If the last dataset becomes older than 2 seconds, the GPS connection is lost.
- Page 21 Controller settings Controller type: Select the type of variable-rate controller that the N-Sensor is con- nected with. Normally this setting must not be changed unless the N-Sensor is at- tached to another controller. Show as-applied rate: When enabled, the as-applied rate from the application device will be displayed on the work screen.
- Page 22 Note that depending on the local configuration the Device detection option may not be available on certain systems. 3.3.5 Information screen The information screen displays the current software version number together with the type and the serial number of the attached N-Sensor. Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 22 of 64...
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Page 23: Task Management
Operation Manual Task management Generally, the N-Sensor handles up to 99 individual tasks, whereas usually one task should correspond to one field. Each task can be regarded as a storage location for N- Sensor data. Tasks are numbered from 1 to 99 and contain general field information (i. - Page 24 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Field size: The field size is not required for N-Sensor operation itself, but it will be stored with the log-file and can be displayed later when the application map is printed. If CardWriter has been used for task preparation, the field size is auto- matically determined from the CardWriter database.
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Page 25: Batch Processing
You can choose between previews of the N-Sensor recommendation map, the as-applied map and the bio- mass map. A crosshair marks the current vehicle position on the maps. This can be helpful for field scouting or for finding the point in the field where the application has been paused. - Page 26 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Map products: Checkmark the pdf products that you want to get processed out of the log files. Additional information: Check the desired options for the layout of the printouts. Additional options: Check this option if you want the field size to be taken from the file header instead of being processed from the GPS data.
- Page 27 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Individual tasks can be selected and deselected by touching the check box in the Select column. By default, all tasks are selected. Use the Select all button to select or deselect all tasks at once.
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Page 28: Operation Modes
N-Sensor. At minimum, the Base application mode (section 5.1) is available to all systems. To select an operation mode, from the main menu enter Setup | N-Sensor and then press the Operation mode button subsequently until the desired operation mode appears (see section 3.2). - Page 29 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Further note that a valid license must be present for the selected mode. Refer to sec- tion 3.2 for entering license codes. Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 29 of 64...
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Page 30: Base Application
Agent content: This number is used as conversion factor between agent rates and product rates. All rates within the N-Sensor program are in agent units, but the ap- plication device requires product rates. Unit: The physical unit of the application rate, either kg/ha or l/ha. The setting does not have any impact on the behaviour of the system;... - Page 31 Usually, the system should be activated at the beginning of the field and should con- tinue to operate throughout the whole field. The Stop button is only pressed to pause operation within the field, i. e. in order to refill fertilizer. In the headlands, the N-Sensor Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39...
- Page 32 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual keeps running. The fertilizer distributor is operated as without the N-Sensor connected, i. e. it is closed and opened in the headlands as usual. When the field is completed, press the Stop button to deactivate the system and stop data logging.
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Page 33: N-Application
Operation Manual N-Application The N-application operation mode is the default mode to use the N-Sensor for site- specific nitrogen application. It provides a relative calibration, i. e. application rates are changed up and down from a user-selectable baseline. To determine this baseline, the user is supported by the agronomic calibration procedure (see below). - Page 34 (EC) between 0 and 99. Depending on the se- lected crop, the type of application is displayed in brackets behind the growth stage. The warning “wrong growth stage” will be displayed if a N-Sensor controlled nitrogen application is not recommended.
- Page 35 N-Sensor variation too much. The default maximum rate is 120 kg N/ha, allowing the N-Sensor to apply a high rate if indicated by the crop. Uniform rate: The uniform rate is regarded as a standard rate that will be applied when the user explicitly switches to uniform rate or in case the system cannot process a regular rate.
- Page 36 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual one tramline with normal crop conditions. The tractor is driven slowly across this area while sensor values are continuously taken. At the end of the calibration area, the average reading is calculated. Finally, the driver assigns the desired applica- tion rate to this reference value.
- Page 37 5.2.2 N-Application operation With the N-Sensor properly set up and calibrated, N application can be started on the field. On the work screen press the Start button to begin fertilizing and data logging. Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39...
- Page 38 Agronomic calibration menu. In this case, the application rate is flashing and the “uniform” icon is displayed to remind that the rates are not based on the N-Sensor reading. Map: This button is only available if a prescription map is attached to the task. If pressed, the map is displayed with the current position of the vehicle and the cur- rent application rate at that point in the map.
- Page 39 The Stop button is only pressed to pause operation within the field, i. e. in order to refill fertilizer. In the headlands, the N-Sensor keeps running. The fertilizer distributor is operated as without the N-Sensor connected, i.
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Page 40: Target Rate Application
(see section 5.2). The mode has been designed to apply a predefined target rate on the field, i. e. to locally redistribute a predefined rate according to the N-Sensor readings. If used properly, the average application rate on the whole field will be ap- proximately equal to the target rate. - Page 41 For optimum performance, the maximum rate should not limit the N-Sensor variation too much. The default maximum rate should be at least 120 kg N/ha, allowing the N-Sensor to apply a high rate if indi- cated by the crop.
- Page 42 On the work screen, the distance driven (DST) and the average N-Sensor value (REF) are displayed continuously. The distance is calculated from the GPS data. If no GPS is connected, a standard speed of 3 m/s is assumed.
- Page 43 The Stop button is only pressed to pause operation within the field, i. e. in order to refill fertilizer. In the headlands, the N-Sensor keeps running. The fertilizer distributor is operated as without the N-Sensor connected, i.
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Page 44: Potato Haulm Killing
Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Potato haulm killing This operation mode provides algorithms for site specific dosing of potato haulm killing herbicides. The Potato haulm killing module (MLHD PHK module) can be used to apply Reglone® (diquat dibromide 200 G/L), Finale® 14 SL (glufosinate ammonium (150 G/L) and Spotlight Plus (carfentrazone-ethyl 60 G/L) in a site specific manner. - Page 45 No. of applications button until the desired number of applications is displayed. Minimum rate: The minimum rate that is recommended by the N-sensor MLHD PHK module. Note that the final application rate may be less if the –10% button is pressed on the work screen during operation.
- Page 46 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Injection Sprayer calibration Carrier rate: The carrier rate can be changed by pressing the Carrier rate button. The carrier rate is the rate of the carrier fluid (normally water). Agent content: The agent content can be changed by pressing the Agent content but- ton.
- Page 47 Operation Manual Warning level: For conventional sprayers the application rate is varied by changing the liquid pressure. The N-Sensor communicates with the sprayer computer to set the desired application rate and to read the actual (realised) application rate. A warning will be given if the measured application rate differs more than Warning Level % from the desired (calculated) application rate.
- Page 48 In the headlands, the N- Sensor keeps running. The sprayer is operated as without the N-Sensor connected, i. e. it is turned on and off in the headlands as usual.
- Page 49 Reglone Reflection parameter CropScan The integration of the MLHD PHK dosing algorithms in the Yara N-sensor was finalised in 2007. The system is tested in practice for both injection and conventional sprayers. In potato crops on arable farms in the Netherlands, MLHD PHK module showed an av- erage reduction of 40 % compared to standard practice while efficacy remained good.
- Page 50 1.2 – 2 L agent per ha. For conventional sprayers the application rate is varied by changing the liquid pressure. The N-Sensor communicates with the sprayer computer to set the de- sired application rate and to read the actual (realised) application rate. A warning will be given if the measured application rate differs more than Warning Level % from the desired (calculated) application rate.
- Page 51 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual For further information, first contact your national N-Sensor distributor or contact Plant Research International in Wageningen (http://www.plant.wur.nl). Contact person: Corné Kempenaar, tel + 31 317 475701 or corne.kempenaar@wur.nl Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 51 of 64...
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Page 52: Using Raster Maps (Prescription Maps)
Select the application mode To make use of raster maps, you first need to determine how the N-Sensor should in- terpret the maps. This can be done through the Application mode setting the Setup/Diagnosis – N-Sensor menu: The Application mode determines how the N-Sensor handles prescription maps. -
Page 53: Linking Raster Maps To Tasks
Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual wise, the N-Sensor recommendation is used. In this case, there is no difference to the Sensor (standard) setting. 4. Application map: The final application rate is the rate from the prescription map, if the map is available and the vehicle is inside the map area. Otherwise, the uniform rate (entered in the agronomic calibration menu) will be applied. -
Page 54: Apply Fertilizer (Or Other Products) From The Map
Note that these rates can be negative if the map is used as an offset to the current N-Sensor recommendation (see section 6.1). A map legend ca be displayed together with some basic statistics by clicking the Leg-... - Page 55 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual If the position of the vehicle is inside the area covered by the map, the map icon is dis- played together with the current map application rate on the bottom left of the work screen:...
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Page 56: Task Management On The Office Pc
(usually a USB stick) just needs to be removed from the terminal and plugged into the office PC. Then the N-Sensor log files (*.log) can be copied to any lo- cation for archiving. Files can be uploaded to the SensorOffice mapping tool at http://www.sensoroffice.com... -
Page 57: Task Preparation
For this purpose, select the Master data tab first and enter the master data for each field to be treated by the N-Sensor. For each field, at least a Field name needs to be entered, further columns are optional but should be filled as far as possible. All information en- tered here will be displayed for the N-Sensor operator on the terminal later. - Page 58 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual New records (i. e. fields) can be created through the + button. To erase records, se- lect the record and press – . The total number of records that can be entered is unlim- ited.
- Page 59 Write tasks. Note that all data on the root directory of the remov- able disk will be deleted. The removable disk can now be taken to the N-Sensor terminal. The prepared data will be visible though the Tasks menu of the N-Sensor application (see section 4).
- Page 60 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39 Page 60 of 64...
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Page 61: Using Task Specific Presets
N-Sensor. Therefore it is recommended to only check those modes, which are really available on that specific device. In the N-Sensor software, select Setup | System... and make sure that the Task specific presets option is checked: Last revised: 28.01.2009 14:39... -
Page 62: Task Preparation
N-Sensor operator. To enter the agronomic calibration parameters, switch to the Presets page. On the left side the general task information is listed as available in the table on the Tasks page. -
Page 63: Operating The N-Sensor With Task Presets
Operation Manual Once all settings have been made, switch to the Removable disk page and write the task data to the removable disk. Unplug the removable disk and plug it into the N-Sensor terminal. Operating the N-Sensor with task presets... - Page 64 Yara N-Sensor V3.10 Operation Manual Note that this page is only available if an operation mode has been assigned to the se- lected task through CardWriter before. If this page is not visible, no task specific pre- sets are available for that task.