Desenvolvimento de um mecanismo de contagem de plantas de milho para estimativa da densidade populacional

Abstract

Despite the considerable amount of corn produced in Brazil, many problems lead to a decrease the productive potential of the crop, such as plant population and plant distribution. Tools capable of identifying the population density in this crop are important to observe the spatial variability of production, the productive potential, evaluate the performance of mechanical planters and assist in decision making in the field. Therefore, the objective of this work was to develop a low cost mechanism for plant counting to obtain estimates of population density in real time for corn. The prototype developed in this work had a electromechanical system composed of a rod that activated a microswitch when it came in contact with the plant while a encoder sensor was used to measure distance between plants. The apparatus was subjected to evaluation using artificial obstacles, with controlled spacing simulating the plant row. Both sensors were evaluated in different terrains to verify measurement accuracy. . The results indicated an acceptable error when operated at speeds below 3.2 Km.h-1. The prototype was able to count 100% of the obstacles in speed of the 2.9 km.h-1. The developed system presented potential for use in experiments that need exhaustive collection of distancing data between plants.