Articles
Investigating the potential of drones to improve precision agriculture in cranberry production
Article number
1395_56
Pages
425 – 430
Language
English
Abstract
Recent technological improvements in drones offer opportunities for improving precision agriculture.
The research aimed to explore various ways drones can aid in cranberry production.
Three experiments were conducted: 1) explore the use of thermal imaging to improve the placement of the temperature sensors used for frost protection, 2) investigate the use of visible and multispectral imaging to map and detect insect damage, and 3) investigate the use of multispectral imaging for detecting the efficiency of rotary spreader fertilizer applications.
Data were collected for the thermal imaging experiment using a long-wave infrared camera, and temperature measurements were calibrated to adjust for environmental conditions affecting emissivity, reflected radiation, and atmospheric transmissivity.
For insect damage and fertilizer application efficiency experiments, data were collected using a multispectral drone connected to a high-accuracy mobile base station that applied real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections to image position metadata.
The multispectral camera was calibrated with a calibrated reflectance target before the flights.
Orthomosaics and digital surface models were stitched from raw images using photogrammetry software.
Results from the thermal imaging experiments allowed us to pinpoint the coldest spot on the bog with high precision.
The results were then used for the precision placement of the frost temperature sensors.
The orthomosaics from the RGB and multispectral cameras showed the extent of Putnam scale damage.
The information from insect damage orthomosaics was utilized to create maps for spot or variable rate applications, reducing insecticide usage.
Both visible and normalized difference vegetation index orthomosaic maps suggest that traditional ground-based rotary spreader fertilizer applications were inefficient, and results from tissue analysis confirmed this.
The orthomosaics were utilized to create maps for variable-rate input applications to achieve bog uniformity.
In conclusion, drones have the potential for various uses in cranberry production to improve precision agriculture.
The research aimed to explore various ways drones can aid in cranberry production.
Three experiments were conducted: 1) explore the use of thermal imaging to improve the placement of the temperature sensors used for frost protection, 2) investigate the use of visible and multispectral imaging to map and detect insect damage, and 3) investigate the use of multispectral imaging for detecting the efficiency of rotary spreader fertilizer applications.
Data were collected for the thermal imaging experiment using a long-wave infrared camera, and temperature measurements were calibrated to adjust for environmental conditions affecting emissivity, reflected radiation, and atmospheric transmissivity.
For insect damage and fertilizer application efficiency experiments, data were collected using a multispectral drone connected to a high-accuracy mobile base station that applied real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections to image position metadata.
The multispectral camera was calibrated with a calibrated reflectance target before the flights.
Orthomosaics and digital surface models were stitched from raw images using photogrammetry software.
Results from the thermal imaging experiments allowed us to pinpoint the coldest spot on the bog with high precision.
The results were then used for the precision placement of the frost temperature sensors.
The orthomosaics from the RGB and multispectral cameras showed the extent of Putnam scale damage.
The information from insect damage orthomosaics was utilized to create maps for spot or variable rate applications, reducing insecticide usage.
Both visible and normalized difference vegetation index orthomosaic maps suggest that traditional ground-based rotary spreader fertilizer applications were inefficient, and results from tissue analysis confirmed this.
The orthomosaics were utilized to create maps for variable-rate input applications to achieve bog uniformity.
In conclusion, drones have the potential for various uses in cranberry production to improve precision agriculture.
Authors
G. Mupambi, R. Wicks
Keywords
digital agriculture, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Vaccinium macrocarpon
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Working Group Precision Management of Orchards and Vineyards
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