scholarly journals Comparison of Modelling Strategies to Estimate Phenotypic Values from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle with Spectral and Temporal Vegetation Indexes

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2827
Author(s):  
Pengcheng Hu ◽  
Scott C. Chapman ◽  
Huidong Jin ◽  
Yan Guo ◽  
Bangyou Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Calibration Method ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Vegetation Indexes ◽  
Temporal Models ◽  
Modelling Strategies ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Aboveground dry weight (AGDW) and leaf area index (LAI) are indicators of crop growth status and grain yield as affected by interactions of genotype, environment, and management. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based remote sensing provides cost-effective and non-destructive methods for the high-throughput phenotyping of crop traits (e.g., AGDW and LAI) through the integration of UAV-derived vegetation indexes (VIs) with statistical models. However, the effects of different modelling strategies that use different dataset compositions of explanatory variables (i.e., combinations of sources and temporal combinations of the VI datasets) on estimates of AGDW and LAI have rarely been evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of three sources of VIs (visible, spectral, and combined) and three types of temporal combinations of the VI datasets (mono-, multi-, and full-temporal) on estimates of AGDW and LAI. The VIs were derived from visible (RGB) and multi-spectral imageries, which were acquired by a UAV-based platform over a wheat trial at five sampling dates before flowering. Partial least squares regression models were built with different modelling strategies to estimate AGDW and LAI at each prediction date. The results showed that models built with the three sources of mono-temporal VIs obtained similar performances for estimating AGDW (RRMSE = 11.86% to 15.80% for visible, 10.25% to 16.70% for spectral, and 10.25% to 16.70% for combined VIs) and LAI (RRMSE = 13.30% to 22.56% for visible, 12.04% to 22.85% for spectral, and 13.45% to 22.85% for combined VIs) across prediction dates. Mono-temporal models built with visible VIs outperformed the other two sources of VIs in general. Models built with mono-temporal VIs generally obtained better estimates than models with multi- and full-temporal VIs. The results suggested that the use of UAV-derived visible VIs can be an alternative to multi-spectral VIs for high-throughput and in-season estimates of AGDW and LAI. The combination of modelling strategies that used mono-temporal datasets and a self-calibration method demonstrated the potential for in-season estimates of AGDW and LAI (RRMSE normally less than 15%) in breeding or agronomy trials.

scholarly journals Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based RGB Indices to Assess Agronomic Performance of Wheat Landraces and Cultivars in a Mediterranean-Type Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1187
Author(s):  
Rubén Rufo ◽  
Jose Miguel Soriano ◽  
Dolors Villegas ◽  
Conxita Royo ◽  
Joaquim Bellvert
Keyword(s):  
Bread Wheat ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Rainfed Conditions ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput Phenotyping ◽  
Rgb Images

The adaptability and stability of new bread wheat cultivars that can be successfully grown in rainfed conditions are of paramount importance. Plant improvement can be boosted using effective high-throughput phenotyping tools in dry areas of the Mediterranean basin, where drought and heat stress are expected to increase yield instability. Remote sensing has been of growing interest in breeding programs since it is a cost-effective technology useful for assessing the canopy structure as well as the physiological traits of large genotype collections. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a 4-band multispectral camera on-board an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and ground-based RGB imagery to predict agronomic traits as well as quantify the best estimation of leaf area index (LAI) in rainfed conditions. A collection of 365 bread wheat genotypes, including 181 Mediterranean landraces and 184 modern cultivars, was evaluated during two consecutive growing seasons. Several vegetation indices (VI) derived from multispectral UAV and ground-based RGB images were calculated at different image acquisition dates of the crop cycle. The modified triangular vegetation index (MTVI2) proved to have a good accuracy to estimate LAI (R2 = 0.61). Although the stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that grain yield and number of grains per square meter (NGm2) were the agronomic traits most suitable to be predicted, the R2 were low due to field trials were conducted under rainfed conditions. Moreover, the prediction of agronomic traits was slightly better with ground-based RGB VI rather than with UAV multispectral VIs. NDVI and GNDVI, from multispectral images, were present in most of the prediction equations. Repeated measurements confirmed that the ability of VIs to predict yield depends on the range of phenotypic data. The current study highlights the potential use of VI and RGB images as an efficient tool for high-throughput phenotyping under rainfed Mediterranean conditions.

scholarly journals Spatio-Temporal Estimation of Biomass Growth in Rice Using Canopy Surface Model from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2388
Author(s):  
Clement Oppong Peprah ◽  
Megumi Yamashita ◽  
Tomoaki Yamaguchi ◽  
Ryo Sekino ◽  
Kyohei Takano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Canopy Surface Model

The awareness of spatial and temporal variations in site-specific crop parameters, such as aboveground biomass (total dry weight: (TDW), plant length (PL) and leaf area index (LAI), help in formulating appropriate management decisions. However, conventional monitoring methods rely on time-consuming manual field operations. In this study, the feasibility of using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing approach for monitoring growth in rice was evaluated using a digital surface model (DSM). Approximately 160 images of paddy fields were captured during each UAV survey campaign over two vegetation seasons. The canopy surface model (CSM) was developed based on the differences observed between each DSM and the first DSM after transplanting. Mean canopy height (CH) was used as a variable for the estimation models of LAI and TDW. The mean CSM of the mesh covering several hills was sufficient to explain the PL (R2 = 0.947). TDW and LAI prediction accuracy of the model were high (relative RMSE of 20.8% and 28.7%, and RMSE of 0.76 m2 m−2 and 141.4 g m−2, respectively) in the rice varieties studied (R2 = 0.937 (Basmati370), 0.837 (Nipponbare and IR64) for TDW, and 0.894 (Basmati370), 0.866 (Nipponbare and IR64) for LAI). The results of this study support the assertion of the benefits of DSM-derived CH for predicting biomass development. In addition, LAI and TDW could be estimated temporally and spatially using the UAV-based CSM, which is not easily affected by weather conditions.

scholarly journals Wheat Leaf Area Index Prediction Using Data Fusion Based on High-Resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Wu ◽  
Lei Deng ◽  
Lijie Guo ◽  
Yanjie Wu
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Data Fusion ◽  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Prediction Accuracy ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Abstract Background: Leaf Area Index (LAI) is half of the amount of leaf area per unit horizontal ground surface area. Consequently, accurate vegetation extraction in remote sensing imagery is critical for LAI estimation. However, most studies do not fully exploit the advantages of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery with high spatial resolution, such as not removing the background (soil and shadow, etc.). Furthermore, the advancement of multi-sensor synchronous observation and integration technology allows for the simultaneous collection of canopy spectral, structural, and thermal data, making it possible for data fusion.Methods: To investigate the potential of high-resolution UAV imagery combined with multi-sensor data fusion in LAI estimation. High-resolution UAV imagery was obtained with a multi-sensor integrated MicaSense Altum camera to extract the wheat canopy's spectral, structural, and thermal features. After removing the soil background, all features were fused, and LAI was estimated using Random Forest and Support Vector Machine Regression.Result: The results show that: (1) the soil background reduced the accuracy of the LAI prediction, and soil background could be effectively removed by taking advantage of high-resolution UAV imagery. After removing the soil background, the LAI prediction accuracy improved significantly, R2 raised by about 0.27, and RMSE fell by about 0.476. (2) The fusion of multi-sensor synchronous observation data improved LAI prediction accuracy and achieved the best accuracy (R2 = 0.815 and RMSE = 1.023). (3) When compared to other variables, 23 CHM, NRCT, NDRE, and BLUE are crucial for LAI estimation. Even the simple Multiple Linear Regression model could achieve high prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.679 and RMSE = 1.231), providing inspiration for rapid and efficient LAI prediction.Conclusions: The method of this study can be transferred to other sites with more extensive areas or similar agriculture structures, which will facilitate agricultural production and management.

scholarly journals Canopy Top, Height and Photosynthetic Pigment Estimation Using Parrot Sequoia Multispectral Imagery and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Norway Spruce Forest Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Kopačková-Strnadová ◽  
Lucie Koucká ◽  
Jan Jelenek ◽  
Zuzana Lhotakova ◽  
Filip Oulehle
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Photosynthetic Pigment ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Needle Age ◽  
Vegetation Indexes ◽  
Pigment Contents ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Uav Images

Remote sensing is one of the modern methods that have significantly developed over the last two decades and nowadays provides a new means for forest monitoring. High spatial and temporal resolutions are demanded for accurate and timely monitoring of forests. In this study multi-spectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images were used to estimate canopy parameters (definition of crown extent, top and height as well as photosynthetic pigment contents). The UAV images in Green, Red, Red-Edge and NIR bands were acquired by Parrot Sequoia camera over selected sites in two small catchments (Czech Republic) covered dominantly by Norway spruce monocultures. Individual tree extents, together with tree tops and heights, were derived from the Canopy Height Model (CHM). In addition, the following were tested i) to what extent can the linear relationship be established between selected vegetation indexes (NDVI and NDVIred edge) derived for individual trees and the corresponding ground truth (e.g., biochemically assessed needle photosynthetic pigment contents), and ii) whether needle age selection as a ground truth and crown light conditions affect the validity of linear models. The results of the conducted statistical analysis show that the two vegetation indexes (NDVI and NDVIred edge) tested here have a potential to assess photosynthetic pigments in Norway spruce forests at a semi-quantitative level, however the needle-age selection as a ground truth was revealed to be a very important factor. The only usable results were obtained for linear models when using the 2nd year needle pigment contents as a ground truth. On the other hand, the illumination conditions of the crown proved to have very little effect on the model’s validity. No study was found to directly compare these results conducted on coniferous forest stands. This shows that there is a further need for studies dealing with a quantitative estimation of the biochemical variables of nature coniferous forests when employing spectral data acquired by the UAV platform at a very high spatial resolution.

Estimation of leaf area index in onion (Allium cepa L.) using an unmanned aerial vehicle

2013 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan I. Córcoles ◽  
Jose F. Ortega ◽  
David Hernández ◽  
Miguel A. Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Allium Cepa ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Allium Cepa L ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

scholarly journals Review: Cost-Effective Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Platform for Field Plant Breeding Application

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 998 ◽  
Author(s):  
GyuJin Jang ◽  
Jaeyoung Kim ◽  
Ju-Kyung Yu ◽  
Hak-Jin Kim ◽  
Yoonha Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Modern Agriculture ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput Phenotyping

Utilization of remote sensing is a new wave of modern agriculture that accelerates plant breeding and research, and the performance of farming practices and farm management. High-throughput phenotyping is a key advanced agricultural technology and has been rapidly adopted in plant research. However, technology adoption is not easy due to cost limitations in academia. This article reviews various commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms as a high-throughput phenotyping technology for plant breeding. It compares known commercial UAV platforms that are cost-effective and manageable in field settings and demonstrates a general workflow for high-throughput phenotyping, including data analysis. The authors expect this article to create opportunities for academics to access new technologies and utilize the information for their research and breeding programs in more workable ways.

A field-based high-throughput method for acquiring canopy architecture using unmanned aerial vehicle images

2021 ◽  
Vol 296 ◽  
pp. 108231
Author(s):  
Fusang Liu ◽  
Pengcheng Hu ◽  
Bangyou Zheng ◽  
Tao Duan ◽  
Binglin Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Canopy Architecture ◽  
High Throughput Method ◽  
Aerial Vehicle
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