An integrated system for mapping soil physical properties on-the-go: the mechanical sensing component

Soil mapping is one of the key practices associated with site-specific management. In many instances, the variability in soil productivity can be attributed to soil physical conditions such as type, compaction, organic matter content and moisture. On-the-go soil sensors have been developed to monitor spatial changes in these conditions. A prototype system integrating mechanical, electrical (capacitance) and optical (reflectance) sensors was developed and tested. Field evaluation of the soil mechanical resistance mapping component is described in this publication. When compared to conventional cone penetrometer measurements in six replicated soil tillage treatment plots, integrated mechanical resistance measurements correlated with r(2) = 0.56.