Method for locating and planting sentinel plants

A multi-variety planter configured for planting a sentinel plant in a field, the multi-variety planter comprising:

• a first planting system coupled to the multi-variety planter, the first planting system configured for planting a first sentinel plant having a first sentinel plant characteristic;
• a second planting system coupled to the multi-variety planter, the second planting system configured for planting a second sentinel plant having a second sentinel plant characteristic;
• a global positioning system communicatively coupled to the multi-variety planter, the global positioning system configured for generating a location signal indicative of a location of the multi-variety planter;
• a data storage for storing a georeferenced field characteristic, the georeferenced field characteristic includes historical data for the field;
• a sensor communicatively coupled to the planter, the sensor configured for sensing a current field characteristic and generating a current field characteristic signal indicative of the current field characteristic;
• and
• a control system communicatively coupled to the multi-variety planter, the control system configured to:
• receive the first sentinel plant characteristic,
• receive the second sentinel plant characteristic,
• receive the location signal indicative of the location of the planter,
• receive the georeferenced field characteristic,
• receive the current field characteristic;
• and
• control at least one of the first planting system or the second planting system based on the first sentinel plant characteristic, the second sentinel plant characteristic, the location, and at least one of the georeferenced field characteristic and the current field characteristic to plant the first sentinel plant or the second sentinel plant at the location that includes a stressor that elicits the first sentinel plant characteristic or the second sentinel plant characteristic.

A method of controlling a planter for planting a sentinel plant in a field, the method comprising:

• receiving a first sentinel plant characteristic;
• receiving a location signal indicative of a location of the planter;
• receiving a georeferenced field characteristic from a data storage, the georeferenced field characteristic including historical data for the field;
• receiving a current field characteristic;
• and
• controlling a first planting system to plant the first sentinel plant based on the first sentinel plant characteristic, the location, and at least one of the georeferenced field characteristic and the current field characteristic to plant the sentinel plant at the location that includes a stressor that elicits the first sentinel plant characteristic.