A microwave system for real-time, non-destructive moisture content measurement in agricultural bales

What is it about?

This study introduces a measurement system dedicated to assessing the attenuation of microwave signals as they pass through agricultural bales, influenced by their Moisture Content. We detail the system's design and outline characterization measurements. The developed system, named Bale Attenuation mIcrowave evaLuation System (BAILS), is tailored to autonomously evaluate attenuation in-field and is mounted on harvesting equipment with remote control capabilities. This study focuses on the characterization of the developed prototype to evaluate its performance. Firsts tests regard precision and linearity of the electronics. Then the entire system was tested forst with water samples and actual straw bale.

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Photo by Adam Young on Unsplash

Photo by Adam Young on Unsplash

Why is it important?

In this manuscript tha authors introduces BAILS, a novel system for real-time, non-destructive measurement of moisture content in agricultural bales. Accurate moisture monitoring is crucial to preserve forage quality, prevent spoilage, and reduce economic losses. Unlike traditional methods, BAILS can be mounted on harvesting machinery, enabling automation and efficiency directly in the field. Its validation, robustness, and potential for future improvements make it a key step toward smarter, more sustainable precision agriculture.