PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide fertilization according to the soil characteristics, and to provide fertilization to be carried out efficiently.SOLUTION: A fertilizer apparatus includes traveling means for traveling on a paddy field, measuring means for measuring the soil characteristics of the mud part thereof, and fertilizing means for applying fertilizer to the mud part. The measuring means includes depth-measuring means, electrical conductivity-measuring means and hardness-measuring means. The fertilizer apparatus (101) acquires "electrical conductivity of the mud part: EC", "depth of the mud part: D" and "hardness of the mud part: H" so as to be related to "position information: P" obtained by the traveling of the traveling means, (107, 108) determines "fertilizing amount: Y" so as to be 0 when "hardness: H" of the mud part is soft, (109) calculates "fertility degree: F" from "electrical conductivity of the mud part: EC" and "depth of the mud part: D", and (111) further calculates "fertilizing amount: Y" based on "fertility degree: F".COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT【解決手段】 施肥装置は水田を走行する走行手段と、上記泥部の土壌特性を測定する測定手段と、泥部に肥料を施す施肥手段とを備え、上記測定手段は深度測定手段、電気伝導度測定手段、硬軟測定手段を備えている。走行手段が走行した「位置情報:P」に関連付けて「泥部の電気伝導度:EC」、「泥部の深度:D」「泥部の硬度:H」を取得したら(101)、「泥部の硬度:H」が軟らかいと「施肥量:Y」を0とし(107、108)、さらに「泥部の電気伝導度:EC」と「泥部の深度:D」とから「肥沃度:F」を算出するとともに(109)、この「肥沃度:F」に基づいて「施肥量:Y」を算出する(111)。【効果】 土壌特性に応じた施肥を行うことができ、かつ効率的に施肥を行うことができる。【選択図】 図4
