14 Application of NIR in Agriculture
341
collection and generation of a result. One of the characteristics of this procedure is the
fact that it does not permit interaction with the industrial process in order to instantly
correct for deviations from target parameters of the process. In the framework of the
Walloon Milkinir research project [32], a near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer-based
system is used for online monitoring of milk quality during the process, allowing
the milk quality of an individual cow to be monitored. Daily measurement of milk
components individual cows could be a decisive tool for farm management and development of animal breeding or feeding programmes to produce milk with a specific
milk composition.
14.3.4 Analysis of Faeces and Farm Effluent, A Way
to Optimise Their Valuation
At the farm, NIR technology can be also used for the analysis of effluents and
faeces. Farm activities produce organic residues, i.e. farm effluents and manure. These
residues are of great interest to improve the fields as they are rich in phosphorus,
potassium and nitrogen. Rational use of farm effluent and manure based on their
intrinsic quality is interesting from the economic point of view. The challenge is the
appropriate strategy in the preparation of the sample submit for analysis in order
to take into account the high heterogenic nature of this product. Misuse can lead
to reduction of soil fertility, environmental pollution and reduction of the farm’s
profitability.
NIR technique has been also proposed to analyse faeces in order to correlate
spectral information to chemical composition or biological status of the diet. Development of models to determine quantitative and qualitative characteristics of grass
and feed on the basis NIR spectra has been proposed [35]. It has been demonstrated,
among other things, that this approach is relevant for estimating in vivo digestibility
and voluntary intake of animals. Moreover, ruminants’ diet composition in terms of
plant species can be ranked using NIR data. The current work relates to the development of decision support tools for improving grazing management schemes based
on NIR determination.
14.4 Applications in the Orchard and in the Fruit Sector
In the fruit sector and since beginning of the twentieth century, VIS and NIR techniques are becoming more and more widely adopted as a non-destructive technique
to rapidly and cost effectively assess the quality of fruit. In production, harvesting,
storage, processing and consumption of fruit, it is crucial to determine several quality
parameters and criteria. A key issue in the analysis of fruit by NIR is appropriate
341
collection and generation of a result. One of the characteristics of this procedure is the
fact that it does not permit interaction with the industrial process in order to instantly
correct for deviations from target parameters of the process. In the framework of the
Walloon Milkinir research project [32], a near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer-based
system is used for online monitoring of milk quality during the process, allowing
the milk quality of an individual cow to be monitored. Daily measurement of milk
components individual cows could be a decisive tool for farm management and development of animal breeding or feeding programmes to produce milk with a specific
milk composition.
14.3.4 Analysis of Faeces and Farm Effluent, A Way
to Optimise Their Valuation
At the farm, NIR technology can be also used for the analysis of effluents and
faeces. Farm activities produce organic residues, i.e. farm effluents and manure. These
residues are of great interest to improve the fields as they are rich in phosphorus,
potassium and nitrogen. Rational use of farm effluent and manure based on their
intrinsic quality is interesting from the economic point of view. The challenge is the
appropriate strategy in the preparation of the sample submit for analysis in order
to take into account the high heterogenic nature of this product. Misuse can lead
to reduction of soil fertility, environmental pollution and reduction of the farm’s
profitability.
NIR technique has been also proposed to analyse faeces in order to correlate
spectral information to chemical composition or biological status of the diet. Development of models to determine quantitative and qualitative characteristics of grass
and feed on the basis NIR spectra has been proposed [35]. It has been demonstrated,
among other things, that this approach is relevant for estimating in vivo digestibility
and voluntary intake of animals. Moreover, ruminants’ diet composition in terms of
plant species can be ranked using NIR data. The current work relates to the development of decision support tools for improving grazing management schemes based
on NIR determination.
14.4 Applications in the Orchard and in the Fruit Sector
In the fruit sector and since beginning of the twentieth century, VIS and NIR techniques are becoming more and more widely adopted as a non-destructive technique
to rapidly and cost effectively assess the quality of fruit. In production, harvesting,
storage, processing and consumption of fruit, it is crucial to determine several quality
parameters and criteria. A key issue in the analysis of fruit by NIR is appropriate