Combination grid recipe and depth control system

A product application system for agricultural use comprising:

• at least one reservoir for holding seeds to be dispensed;
• at least one dispensing applicator having a defined width;
• conduit means for directing seeds from said reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• valve means in said conduit means for simultaneously controlling a flow of said seeds from said reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• hydraulic depth control means for controlling the height of the dispensing applicator and the planting depth of the seeds;
• programmable control means for controlling said valve means and said depth control means;
• display means for displaying seed planting depth information;
• location sensing means for determining a location of said dispensing applicator and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
• data storage means for storing a plurality of planting depths and frequencies, said field divided into a plurality of sections, the date storage means including at least one planting depth and frequency per section, each section having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width of said at least one dispensing applicator;
• and
• computer means for processing said planting depth and frequency obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said planting depth and frequency at said locations of sections in a field.

A control means for a seed planting system having at least one reservoir of seeds to be planted through conduits at frequencies controlled by valves at depths controlled by a boom leveler, the seed planting system having a defined width, the control means comprising:

• programmable control means for controlling the frequency and the depth at which the seeds are planted;
• display means for displaying information relating to the depth at which the seeds are being planted;
• said display means including a continuous display of the actual current seed planting depth and frequency;
• location sensing means for determining a location of said seed planting system and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
• data storage means for storing a planting depth and frequency for units of a field on which said seeds are to be planted, said field being divided into a plurality of units, each unit having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width of said seed planting system;
• and
• computer means for processing and said planting depth and frequency obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said planting depth and frequency at said units of the field.

A method for generating a grid recipe for chemical application and planting depth for a field and simultaneously applying at least one chemical and planting at least one crop in the field using the grid recipe by utilizing a data processing means and a chemical application/seed depth control system transported by a vehicle through the field, the chemical application/seed depth control system including a chemical/seed applicator having a defined width, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing a field into a plurality of sections, each of the sections having a width equal to a multiple of the defined width of the product applicator;
• creating a plurality of chemical application/seed depth sets for simultaneously applying at least one chemical at a predetermined rate and planting at least one type of seed in at least one section of the field at a predetermined depth and frequency and identifying the section or sections to which each of said chemical application/seed depth sets pertains;
• storing the chemical application/seed depth sets in a mobile data storage means;
• delivering the data storage means to a data processing means located at the chemical application/seed depth control system, the data processing means for communicating the chemical application/seed depth sets to the chemical application/seed depth control system;
• communicating the location of the chemical application/seed depth control system to the data processing means;
• and
• controlling the chemical application/seed depth control system based upon the location of the chemical application/seed depth control system and the chemical application/seed depth set pertaining to the section encompassing the location.

A product application system for agricultural use comprising:

• at least one seed reservoir for holding seeds to be dispensed;
• at least one chemical reservoir for holding at least one chemical to be dispensed;
• at least one combination chemical and seed dispensing applicator having a defined width;
• seed conduit means for directing seeds simultaneously from said seed reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• chemical conduit means for directing said chemical simultaneously from said chemical reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• seed valve means in said conduit means for simultaneously controlling a flow of said seeds from said seed reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• chemical valve means in said conduit means for simultaneously controlling a flow of said chemical from said chemical reservoir to said dispensing applicator;
• hydraulic depth control means for controlling the height of the dispensing applicator and the planting depth of the seeds;
• programmable control means for controlling said seed valve means, said chemical valve means and said depth control means;
• display means for displaying seed planting depth information and chemical application information;
• location sensing means for determining a location of said at least one dispensing applicator and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
• data storage means for storing a plurality of chemical application rates, planting depths and planting frequencies, said field divided into a plurality of sections, the date storage means including at least one chemical application rate, seed planting depth and seed planting frequency per section, each section having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width of said at least one dispensing applicator;
• and
• computer means for processing said chemical application rate, planting depth and frequency obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said chemical application flowrate, planting depth and frequency at said locations of sections in a field.

A control means for a combination seed planting and chemical applicator system having at least one reservoir of seeds to be planted through conduits at frequencies controlled by valves at depths controlled by a boom leveler and at least one reservoir of at least one chemical to be dispensed through conduits at flowrates controlled by valves, the combination seed planting and chemical applicator system having a defined width, the control means comprising:

• programmable control means for controlling the frequency and the depth at which the seeds are planted and the flowrate at which the chemical is to be dispensed;
• display means for displaying information relating to the seeds and chemical simultaneously;
• said display means including a continuous display of the actual current seed planting depth and frequency and chemical application flowrate;
• location sensing means for determining a location of the combination seed planting and chemical applicator system and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
• data storage means for storing a planting depth and frequency and chemical application flowrate for units of a field on which said seeds are to be planted and said chemical is to be applied, said field divided into a plurality of units, each unit having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width of said seed planting system;
• and
• computer means for processing and said planting depth and frequency and chemical application flowrate obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said planting depth and frequency and chemical flowrate at said units of the field.