GrassRobotics - A novel adaptation strategy for forage production under wet growing conditions - robotization and high quality forages | Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet

GrassRobotics - A novel adaptation strategy for forage production under wet growing conditions - robotization and high quality forages

This project will develop a sustainable production system for forage production using a lightweight robot and novel seed mixtures.

prosjekt

About/Aims

Background

Due to wet growing conditions and commonly used heavy tractors and baling equipment, the time windows for ley harvesting are shortened during the last decades, resulting in forages of lower forage nutritive quality than necessary. Also, soil compaction and less optimal conditions for plant growth is a consequence in a situation where the dry matter yield in grassland is lower than expected from the plant nutrients supplied.

Objectives

The main goal of the GrassRobotics project is to develop a sustainable production system for forage production using a lightweight robot with cutting, collecting and transportation tools. This work will be combined with novel seed mixtures that are suited for frequent harvests, as well as a wetter and longer growing season.

The project will develop a lightweight robot with harvesting tools and test multispecies seed mixtures for frequent harvesting with the objective to obtain increased feed quality of the forage. We will estimate production response with respect to forage costs and profit by increasing the number of times we harvest each season. Stationary compactors will be the receiver of material loads from the harvesters, keeping all heavy equipment off the fields. Further, we will study the environmental effects of introducing lightweight equipment and several harvests on soil compaction, root development and nutrient uptake.

Project partners:

NIBIO
Norsk landbruksrådgivning Agder
Saga Robotics
Fylkesmannen i Vestland
HMR Voss
Orkel
University of Lincoln
Felleskjøpet Agri
TINE

More about the project

https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no/#/project/NFR/281221

Project partners gathered at NIBIO Fureneset during the second annual Grass Robotics project meeting in May 2019:

Photo

NMBU

News/Findings

Results/findings

September 2018: The first field trials with the grass robot were conducted at NMBU.

Reviews

- Forsking på høgt nivå (Bondelaget.no, 23 May 2019)

Denne roboten kan ta over slåttearbeidet for bonden (Firda, 22 May 2019)

Teknologien når grasrota (Bondevennen 8/2 2018)

Denne lille roboten kan erstatte traktoren (NRK Rogaland, 24/4 2018)

Researchers

Project manager

Pål Johan From

Professor

pal.johan.from@nmbu.no

Participating NMBU researchers

Nils Bjugstad

Professor

nils.bjugstad@nmbu.no

Lars Grimstad

Associate Professor

lars.grimstad@nmbu.no

Eirik Wormdahl

Engineer

eirik.wormdahl@nmbu.no

Jose Carlos Mayoral Banos

PhD Candidate

jose.carlos.mayoral.banos@nmbu.no

Mikkel Danielsen

Engineer

mikkel.danielsen@nmbu.no

Pål Johan From

Professor

pal.johan.from@nmbu.no

Department

Faculty of Science and Technology

Time frame

1. April 2018 to 31. December 2021

Funding

The GrassRobotics project receives funding from the Foundation for Research Levy on Agricultural Products (FFL)/the Agricultural Agreement Research Fund (JA).

Affiliation

The robotics group at NMBU

GrassRobotics - A novel adaptation strategy for forage production under wet growing conditions - robotization and high quality forages

GrassRobotics - A novel adaptation strategy for forage production under wet growing conditions - robotization and high quality forages

prosjekt

NMBU

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Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)