Application of Ground Penetrating Radar to Potato Crop Assessment

Optimization of the yield of crops is essential for the security of the food supply and the efficiency of farming. This paper examines some of the issues and challenges involved with the measurement of the potato tubers within the soil using ground penetrating radar (GPR) in the U.K. An order of magnitude assessment of the received signal levels from single or multiple groups of potatoes is provided. The antenna configurations are based on loaded dipole antennas near the potato ridge surface. Measurements of potato tubers at two test sites in the U.K. are described, as well as an approach to signal processing to optimize detectability. The article provides a systematic study of GPR techniques for the monitoring of tuber growth.