<p><i>Smart farming experiential learning and research endeavors have been ongoing at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) for the past several years to address the growing concerns related to meeting the food demands of a growing population with limited arable land in a sustainable fashion. A multidisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students work with farm personnel and faculty advisors to advance the project goals. &nbsp;The primary focus has been to improve nutrient and water use efficiencies for production farming and horticulture utilizing state-of-the-art automation technologies in concert with sustainable intensification efforts. Recent field implementation of contemporary technologies for variable rate fertilizer application for cereal crops based on multispectral drone imagery; deployment of wireless solar powered soil moisture sensor network on a&nbsp; field with subsurface drip and fertigation capability; and development of a sustainable platform integrated with a Cartesian robotic device powered by solar and wind energy that can seed, weed, irrigate, and capture time-lapse photography while servicing a small raised bed for specialty crops and vegetables will be described in this paper. The contemporary technologies utilized enabled the project team to surmount challenges presented by the COVID 19 related restrictions and safety precautions on campus. &nbsp;Results from the initial phase of implementation efforts and future goals will also be highlighted.</i>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Recent Field Implementation of Contemporary and Smart Farming Technologies at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IDETC-CIE/IDETC-CIE2021/volume/85369

ASME 2021 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (IDETC/CIE2021)

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