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UAV-Assisted Dynamic Monitoring of Wheat Uniformity toward Yield and Biomass Estimation
Yandong Yang1, Qing Li2, Yue Mu1
1Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production co-sponsored by Province and Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing 210095, China.
This study introduces a novel method using drone imaging to quantify wheat crop uniformity, improving yield and biomass prediction. The research highlights the effectiveness of uniformity indices over average agronomic parameters for accurate forecasting.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Remote Sensing
- Agronomy
Background:
- Crop uniformity is crucial for yield and biomass assessment but lacks continuous monitoring methods.
- Existing methods do not adequately capture dynamic uniformity changes throughout the growing season.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a wheat uniformity quantification method using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging.
- To analyze dynamic changes in wheat uniformity and their correlation with yield and biomass.
- To improve yield and biomass estimation models using uniformity indices.
Main Methods:
- Estimating Leaf Area Index (LAI), SPAD, and fractional vegetation cover from hyperspectral images.
- Calculating plant height from RGB images using a point cloud model.
- Deriving 20 uniformity indices across multiple growth stages and correlating them with yield and biomass.
Main Results:
- Pielou's index of LAI demonstrated the strongest correlation with yield (r=-0.760) and biomass (r=-0.801).
- Uniformity index-based models achieved higher accuracy (R²=0.616 for yield, R²=0.798 for biomass) than models using mean agronomic parameters.
- The method effectively captured temporal and spatial variations in wheat uniformity.
Conclusions:
- The proposed UAV-based uniformity monitoring method provides a robust approach for assessing wheat crop variability.
- This method offers valuable insights for more accurate yield and biomass prediction.
- Continuous monitoring of crop uniformity is essential for optimizing agricultural management and forecasting.
