Development of an Electro-Mechanical System to Identify & Map Adverse Soil Compaction Using GIS&GPS

The authors are solely responsible for the content of this technical presentation. The technical presentation does not necessarily reflect the official position of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and its printing and distribution does not constitute an endorsement of views which may be expressed. Technical presentations are not subject to the formal peer review process by ASABE editorial committees; therefore, they are not to be presented as refereed publications. Citation of this work should state that it is from an ASABE meeting paper. Abstract. A stand-alone electro-mechanical system with a 32-inch disc coulter was developed and tested to identify soil compaction in a 1-acre field located at the University of Kentucky Animal Research Center (UKARC). The system was evaluated by making four passes in the square grid cell. With the aid of hydraulic actuation, the coulter oscillated between depths of 100mm (4-in) and 330mm (13-in) as it moved forward and recorded the vertical impedance force given by the soil continuously. Forty standard soil cone penetrometer measurements along the diagonals to a depth of 400mm (16-in) were taken and the average cone indices (MPa) at different depths for the entire grid cell were compared to the average coulter indices (CuI(N/mm), defined as the penetration force divided by the perimeter of the coulter disc in contact with soil) at corresponding depths. Ten soil bulk density measurements were taken at depths of (100,150,200,250,300mm) per each grid cell and averaged. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination (r 2) were found to be 0.716 and 0.51between CuI and CI respectively. The depth and spatial locations of maximum vertical impedance force and maximum CuI were determined.