Soybean gauging methodology
Hemav Traffic Analytics App
Download and Installation
The Hemav Aforos application is free and can be downloaded and installed through the Play Store for Android systems and the Apple Store for iOS systems.
Follow the download links:
Android: <https://play
iOS: <https://it
Before starting the installation, keep in mind that the device must meet the following requirements:
Minimum iOS version: 10.0
Minimum Android version: 6.0
Internet access for application data synchronization
Log in
Once the application has been downloaded and installed, to log in enter the username and password provided by HEMAV for viewer access.
By default, this data will be stored and therefore will only be required the first time you log in.
If you don’t remember your login information, you can contact support@hemav.com.
Figure 1. APP Home Screen.
Main menu
When logging in, a screen with downloaded plots opens. The first time you log in, the screen will appear empty and to download plots, press the button with the cloud logo, and select the plot to download.
NOTE: you must be connected to the network to be able to access and download plots.
FILTERS:
Text filter
Filtered by client
Filtered by crop
All filters can be removed
Plots will be downloaded one at a time. The downloaded plot becomes the last one in the download list. You can delete a plot by sliding your finger to the side and pressing Accept in the pop-up screen.
Figure 2. Plot selection.
When a plot is selected, the following form will appear where you must indicate which type of survey you want to perform. Note that both options may not always be available (e.g., if no drone flight has been performed, the drone option will not appear).
Once the type of capacity measurement to be performed is selected, the application asks which layer (drone or satellite) you want to use to create this measurement. If ‘drone flight’ is selected, it asks if you want to perform the measurement with the last registered drone flight. If, on the contrary, ‘satellite’ is selected, it is necessary to enter the desired sampling date.
Once all the plots to be measured have been selected, along with the type of measurement and base layer to work with, proceed to select the most suitable flight or scene. If more than one measurement is desired (e.g.: foliar and soil), the plot will need to be downloaded as many times as the types of measurements we want.
You can decide whether to select one date or another based on the information provided by the cloud icon that indicates the probability that the scene is contaminated by clouds. If you cannot get a cloud-free scene on the selected date, you can always select another date.
Occupancy location
There are different types of capacity studies to perform (Figure 8). The point where the sample must be taken will depend on the methodology used for field image capture.
Figure 8. Capacity control initial screen.
Location of the capacity measurements:
Drone Flight
Once drone flight processing is completed, the pixel-by-pixel PCD layer will be available in the Traffic Count APP.
When accessing the plot, the 5 existing vigor classes in the plot will be displayed. First, you must select a date by pressing on the upper green bar. Once the date is selected, press the + button and the possible actions will be shown:
GAUGE: the gauging screen opens, showing the gauging point.
PLOT POSITION: changes the map view, centering it on the plot location.
MY LOCATION: changes the map view, centering it on the real-time location of the mobile device.
GO TO PLOT: changes the map view, centering it to the real-time location of the mobile device, and uses Google Maps as the map base.
To return to the main screen of the application (where all downloaded plots for gauging appear), press the house-shaped button in the upper right corner. If the plot already has any sample points, these will appear as pins in the field.
Select ‘gauge’ and a pin appears that, when moving across the plot, will be placed where the gauging will be taken. Once the gauging location is identified, press the upper button to fill in the necessary information.
A capacity count must be taken in each plot class, with a minimum of 5 capacity counts per plot.
It is recommended that, in the space dedicated to flow rate comments, you insert the class in which we are located at the time of the flow measurement. For example, if it is the red class, green class, etc.
Satellite image
En el caso que el análisis de la parcela se realice a partir de imágenes satelitales, se deberá seleccionar en la APP de aforos el día en el que se ha aforado para ver la información del campo de aquel día (si ese día estaba nublado es posible cambiar la fecha para encontrar un dato valido y que sea lo más cercano posible). Con la fecha seleccionada se deberá indicar de forma precisa el lugar donde se ha realizado el aforo y cumplimentar la información necesaria para cada tipo de análisis realizado en el aforo.
For satellite-based crop assessment, vegetative vigor is used as the base layer. However, in this case we do not have the layer categorized into 5 classes.
Once the gauging is completed for a plot, if you want to gauge another plot, you must return to the main screen. To return to the main screen of the application (where all downloaded plots for gauging are located), press the house-shaped button in the upper right. If the plot already has any sample points, these will appear as pins in the field.
Whether they are gauging with satellite base or drone flight base, when filling in the gauging data, you must select the method used to calculate the concentration of each nutrient (see dropdown with available options in each case). This step will typically be performed days after sampling. What should be done in the field is to leave all information blank and accept the gauging so that the application provides the gauging identifier (figure 15).
After completing the data for each gauging point (and confirming that the information has been correctly entered), the following screen appears:
This screen provides the number that should be used to identify the field sample so that, later, when laboratory results arrive, data can be correctly entered into the gauging points.
Type of data to be measured
With the app it is possible to perform samplings for both Foliar Analysis and soil analysis. Also to make estimates of production and oil yield.
Measurement methodology
Soil analysis
At each chosen point, REMOVE VEGETATION COVER, clean the soil surface discarding any stubble or grass remains.
Using a shovel, make cuts as shown in Figure 9, up to about 20 cm deep.
Figure 18. How to obtain the soil sample.
a first shovel (making a V-shaped hole) throwing it to the side, and then a second shovel approximately 10 cm thick, Take the sample (500g) from the deep area and place it in a large bag. Therefore, the sample depth is between 20-40 cm deep.
NOTE: The soil should preferably be dry. If it is moist, dry it in the shade on a clean plastic surface.
Write down the Plant ID on the sample.
**Observations
Do not smoke during sample collection, to avoid contaminating them with potassium-rich cigarette ashes.
Do not take samples in recently fertilized areas, sites near corrals, roads, or places where manure, fertilizers, lime, or others are stored.
Sample preservation:
Soil samples should not be placed under direct sunlight and high temperatures, the main reason being that when soil is removed, it becomes oxygenated and rapidly oxidizes organic matter, along with this some nutrients that are retained by the organic phase are lost.
If samples are not going to be sent quickly, they should be stored in a refrigerator, household ones are sufficient, taking care to place them in the lowest part, and covered with newspaper sheets to protect them from water that may condense on the bag.
In the APP, when asked about the type of capacity assessment to perform, you should select ‘Soil analysis’.
Next, gauging points are selected as previously explained (gauging methodology) and entered into the app as discussed in the previous section Gauging Location (APP-SAT and DRONE).
The data to be filled in will be entered taking into account the method of collection indicated by the laboratory (selected with the dropdown menu). Once all the information is filled in (always provide as much information as possible), press the ‘send’ button. You will be asked if you are sure about sending this capacity data. Confirm the upload and a PLANT ID will be provided.
NOTE: In the field, at the time of sample collection, all these steps must be performed but without filling in the information. The information will be entered days later when laboratory data is received. What must be done is to save the PLANT ID to properly identify the sample that goes to the laboratory and thus, later, correctly identify the results provided for each sample.
Leaf area
We locate the leaves to analyze. These should be collected starting from the second leaf from the top downwards (Figure 10).
Figure 19. Soybean leaves to collect for foliar evaluation.
The sample must comprise 30 - 40 fully formed leaves.
Place them in KRAFT bags.
Write down on the plant ID bag.
NOTE: It is advisable to make a sketch of the plot and the sample IDs, so that once the laboratory data is available there is no confusion.
In the APP, when asked about the type of capacity assessment to perform, you should select ‘Soil analysis’.
Next, gauging points are selected as previously explained (gauging methodology) and entered into the app as discussed in the previous section Gauging Location (APP-SAT and DRONE).
The data to be filled in will be entered according to the collection method indicated by the laboratory (selected using the dropdown menu).
Remember to enter in the ‘capacity notes’ section which category is associated with the sample taken (red, green, blue, etc).
Once all the information has been filled in (you should always provide as much information as possible), press the ‘send’ button. You will be asked if you are sure about sending this capacity data. Confirm the upload and an ID PLANTA will be provided.
NOTE: In the field, at the time of sample collection, all these steps must be performed but without filling in the information. The information will be entered days later when laboratory data is received. What should be done is to save the PLANT ID to properly identify the sample going to the laboratory and thus, later, correctly identify the results provided for each sample.
Required materials for nutritional assessment
Soil analysis
Plastic bags
Box to deposit all samples together
A shovel
Heater (optional, would replace the shovel)
These are more practical since they extract more uniform samples, are fast and cause less damage to the ground surface. The only disadvantage is that they are not very useful in very dry, compact soils or those with a lot of rocky material.
Permanent marker to identify the sample with the PLANT ID from the APP
substances that could contaminate the sample.
Foliar analysis
For obtaining nutritional analysis samples there are two procedures and therefore two types of materials to use:
Laboratory measurement
Kraft paper bags
Drop box for depositing all samples together?
Cooler: If immediate transport to the laboratory is not possible, keep them refrigerated at 5º C (do not freeze) until shipping, for a period not exceeding 3 days. It would be advisable to obtain a portable cooler made of insulating material along with some cold packs.
Permanent marker to identify the sample
IMPORTANT: add the PLANT ID that appears in the APP to the sample that is sent to the laboratory.
Field measurement with portable NIR analyzer
→ Notify the model and HEMAV characteristics to study compatibility with the system.
Capacity for PRODUCTION AND QUALITY
To set quality and production parameters, we will position ourselves in each color category and click on the icon [3A] seen in the previous section, an image similar to Figure 8 will appear. Then, by clicking on each of the options, we will incorporate the required information.
Figure 20. Seeding rate parameters for quality and yield in soybeans.
Methodology for gauging PRODUCTION from the APP
To estimate production, 5 samples should be taken from each plot:
Locate the five crop classes in the gauging APP with the interpolated PCD layer active.
Locate 3 linear meters within each class and physically delimit it.
Count the number of plants within the 3 linear meters and divide the value by 3.
→ Enter in the corresponding field of the APP.
Count the average number of grains from 10 plants (count all grains from those 10 plants and divide by 10).
→ Enter in the corresponding field of the APP.
Count 100 grains and weigh them on a scale with a minimum precision of 0.1 grams.
→ Enter in the corresponding field of the APP.
From those 100 kernels, the moisture percentage should be obtained to account for grain moisture. (This is not mandatory data, but highly recommended to increase the accuracy of the result - Laboratory sample required, sample weight 200 grams).
This data is necessary since at the time of capacity assessment the plants are in R6 phenological stage. Moisture losses need to be known to make a correct estimation of the plot’s production at harvest time.
If the humidity data is provided by the laboratory a few days after taking the sample, it will be necessary to re-enter it into the gauging app. If the data is different from 60.0%, we should observe that the “FINAL WEIGHT (kg)” field varies.
If we will not proceed to calculate the sample’s moisture content in the laboratory, by default the system will consider that the sample’s moisture content is 60%. This is because at the R6 phenological stage, the grain moisture percentage is around 60%.
→ Enter in the corresponding field of the APP.
The final weight of each plant is automatically calculated from the entered data, it is important not to overwrite this value. It is AUTOMATICALLY calculated and serves as a QUALITY control of the capacity.
Option to include capacity comments.
Once the counting is completed, press “SEND” and you must write down the “COUNTING ID” number and the plot where it was performed.
Once all the sampling data for the plot in question has been entered, you must contact the HEMAV technician in charge to proceed with the generation of the production estimate.
Methodology for measuring QUALITY (protein)
For quality measurement:
Obtain a 200-gram sample of grains in a KRAFT (paper) bag.
Write down the CAPACITY ID on each of the bags.
Send samples to the laboratory with proper identification.
Once the laboratory results are available, we continue with entering the information in the APP:
Search for the plot where samples were taken.
Search within the plot for the GAUGING ID referenced in the laboratory results.
Enter the capacity again, as if it were being registered again, selecting the gauging day and entering the average protein % in that gauging as determined by the laboratory.
Perform the same step for all capacity measurements.
Equipment required for production and quality gauging
To obtain quality analysis samples there are two procedures and therefore two types of materials to use:
Kraft plastic bags
Sample marker
IMPORTANT: add the PLANT ID shown in the APP to the sample being sent to the laboratory.
Scale: fresh sample weight
Final considerations
IF THERE IS INTERNET CONNECTION: the occupancy result will be automatically sent to the system.
NOTE: it is not necessary to wait for the upload to continue taking samples.
IF THERE IS NO INTERNET CONNECTION: the capacity count result is saved in the background to be sent once the application is opened and the device is connected to the network. The phone will periodically notify about pending capacity counts that need to be sent. Once connected to the internet, it will be necessary to open the application again to send the capacity counts.
If internet is null or with very low coverage in the area where we will take the traffic counts, it is preferable to disable data usage so that the application saves them and later, with good internet coverage, they can be uploaded correctly. To disable this option, we can choose airplane mode (it will also disable the GPS signal and cause more difficulty when taking the traffic count) or disable the phone’s data usage (it will allow us to use GPS signal and make the traffic counts easier).
If we store the capacity counts locally to upload them later, we must ensure we have good internet connectivity when doing so. In other words, before opening the app to upload these capacity counts, we could perform a connectivity test (google.com).
En el caso de subir los aforos y la APP muestre ‘Cargando…’ por un tiempo de más de 5 minutos, deberemos cerrar la aplicación por completo y volver a abrirla (constatando que la conectividad a internet es buena).