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On-the-go Phenotyping in Field Potatoes Using Camera Vision

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Abstract

A camera sensor for detecting crop parameters, with the aim of implementing precision plant protection, has been developed at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering. This sensor was tested in farmers’ potato fields regarding the phenotyping and monitoring of crop growth. Field trials were conducted in 2007, 2011 and 2012 to quantify the relationship between the sensor measurements of the coverage level by the green stem and leaf parts and two plant parameters: the fresh mass of the tops and the leaf area index. Within the fields, sampling points were chosen based on differences in crop development. At different dates, the sensor values (coverage level) and the two plant parameters were determined. Because of the shape of the obtained scatterplots between the two plant parameters and the coverage level, a linear regression model with a plateau was adapted. An on-the-go (on-line, real-time) technology for measuring the percentage of green coverage was tested to monitor the development of the potato crop during the growth period. The sensor was positioned on the left side of the tractor to scan the crop stand along transects. The coverage level was measured and recorded together with the geographical position using a data processing system. Areas showing different plant growth could be determined, as could differences in the temporal development of the crop in the various sections of the transect.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the staff of the Department for Engineering in Crop Production, the company Agrar GmbH Flämingland Blönsdorf and the Agrargenossenschaft Nuthequelle Niedergörsdorf for their technical assistance in measuring and analysing the field trials and finally also the editor and reviewers for improving the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB), Department of Engineering for Crop Production, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469, Potsdam, Germany

    Karl-Heinz Dammer, Volker Dworak & Jörn Selbeck

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  1. Karl-Heinz Dammer
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  2. Volker Dworak
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  3. Jörn Selbeck
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Correspondence to Karl-Heinz Dammer.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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The research has not involved human participants and/or animals.

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Dammer, KH., Dworak, V. & Selbeck, J. On-the-go Phenotyping in Field Potatoes Using Camera Vision. Potato Res. 59, 113–127 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-016-9315-y

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