Adapting a relatively low-cost reflectance spectrometer for on-combine sensing of grain protein concentration

Authors: Long, Daniel; MCCALLUM, JOHN - Volunteer

Submitted to: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2020
Publication Date: 5/13/2020
Citation: Long, D.S., McCallum, J.D. 2020. Adapting a relatively low-cost reflectance spectrometer for on-combine sensing of grain protein concentration. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105467.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2020.105467

Interpretive Summary: An on-combine spectrometer is now commercially available for mapping the concentration of grain protein (GPC) within farm fields. At a cost of more than $20,000, this specialized instrument may not be affordable for all producers. This study adapted a spectrometer designed for laboratory use, costing far less than a specialized instrument, for use on a combine harvester for mapping grain protein. Predicted values of grain protein concentration compared favorably with those of reference grain samples. An on-combine protein map derived from the low-cost instrument was visually comparable with one made from a more expensive instrument. Adapting a relatively inexpensive NIR reflectance spectrometer for mapping GPC across farm fields appears to be feasible.

Technical Abstract: An on-combine spectrometer is now commercially available for mapping the concentration of grain protein (GPC) within farm fields. At a cost of >US$20,000, this specialized instrument may not be affordable for all producers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a moderately priced reflectance spectrometer (