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Development of canopy vigour maps using UAV for site-specific management during vineyard spraying process

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Abstract

Site-specific management of crops represents an important improvement in terms of efficiency and efficacy of the different labours, and its implementation has experienced a large development in the last decades, especially for field crops. The particular case of the spray application process for what are called “specialty crops” (vineyard, orchard fruits, citrus, olive trees, etc.) represents one of the most controversial and influential actions directly related with economical, technical, and environmental aspects. This study was conducted with the main objective to find possible correlations between data obtained from remote sensing technology and the actual canopy characteristics. The potential correlation will be the starting point to develop a variable rate application technology based on prescription maps previously developed. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a multispectral camera was used to obtain data to build a canopy vigour map of an entire parcel. By applying the specific software DOSAVIÑA®, the canopy map was then transformed into a practical prescription map, which was uploaded into the dedicated software embedded in the sprayer. Adding to this information precise georeferenced placement of the sprayer, the system was able to modify the working parameters (pressure) in real time in order to follow the prescription map. The results indicate that site-specific management for spray application in vineyards result in a 45% reduction of application rate when compared with conventional spray application. This fact leads to a equivalent reduction of the amount of pesticide when concentration is maintained constant, showing once more that new technologies can help to achieve the goal of the European legislative network of safe use of pesticides.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely wish to thank Andreu Piñol, Topcon Positioning Spain S.L.U., Ilemo-Hardi, S.A.U., and AgriArgo Ibérica, S.A.

Funding

This research was partially funded by the “Ajuts a les activitats de demostració (operació 01.02.01 de Transferència Tecnològica del Programa de desenvolupament rural de Catalunya 2014–2020)” and an FI-DGR Grant from Generalitat de Catalunya (2018 FI_B1 00083). Research and improvement of Dosaviña have been developed under LIFE PERFECT project: Pesticide Reduction using Friendly and Environmentally Controlled Technologies (LIFE17 ENV/ES/000205).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agro Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Esteve Terradas, 8, 08860, Castelldefels, Spain

    Javier Campos, Jordi Llop, Montserrat Gallart, Anna Gras, Ramón Salcedo & Emilio Gil

  2. AgroMapping Ltd, 08014, Barcelona, Spain

    Francisco García-Ruiz

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  1. Javier Campos
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  2. Jordi Llop
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  3. Montserrat Gallart
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  7. Emilio Gil
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Correspondence to Emilio Gil.

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Campos, J., Llop, J., Gallart, M. et al. Development of canopy vigour maps using UAV for site-specific management during vineyard spraying process. Precision Agric 20, 1136–1156 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-019-09643-z

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