Darrell G Schulze

US Patent:

50447564, Sep 3, 1991

Filed:

Mar 13, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/325698

Inventors:

Lawrence D. Gaultney - West Lafayette IN
George E. Van Scoyoc - West Lafayette IN
Darrell G. Schulze - West Lafayette IN
Jason L. Shonk - Woodridge IL

Assignee:

Purdue Research Foundation - West Lafayette IN

International Classification:

G01N 2149
G01N 2184
G01N 3324

US Classification:

356446

Abstract:

An apparatus for attachment to a vehicle for sensing the organic matter content of soil at a soil scene as it is moved through the soil by the vehicle has a probe including a housing, a light source and a light sensor. The light sensor senses the light reflected from the soil scene and produces an output signal which is related to the organic matter content of the soil at the soil scene. The housing is attached to the vehicle so that as it is moved through the soil the soil scene that is observed by the light sensor is beneath the surface of the surrounding soil and the housing shields the soil scene from ambient light. The apparatus also includes a processor which processes the signal from the light sensor using data predetermined from a particular landscape which includes the soil to be sensed.