Linking thermal imaging and soil remote sensing to enhance irrigation management of sugar beet. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quebrajo, L.; Perez-Ruiz, M.; Pérez-Urrestarazu, L.; Martínez, G.; Egea, G.
• Is Part Of: Biosystems engineering. Volume 165(2018)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Remote sensing -- Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) -- Precision agriculture -- Aerial image -- Crop water stress index (CWSI); Bioengineering -- Periodicals; Agricultural engineering -- Periodicals; Biological systems -- Periodicals; Génie rural -- Périodiques; Systèmes biologiques -- Périodiques; 631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.08.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-5110

Abstract

Abstract : The use of reliable information and data that are rapidly and easily acquired is essential for farm water management and appropriate irrigation strategies. Over the past decade, new advances have been made in irrigation technology, such as platforms that continuously transmit data between irrigation controllers and field sensors, mobile apps, and equipment for variable rate irrigation. In this study, images captured with a thermal imaging camera mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were used to evaluate the water status of sugar beet plants in a plot with large spatial variability in terms of soil properties. The results were compared with those of soil moisture measurements. No direct relationship was observed between the water status of the soil and that of the crops. However, the fresh root mass and sugar content tended to decrease when higher levels of water stress were detected in the crop using thermal imaging, with coefficients of determination of 0.28 and 0.94 for fresh root mass and sugar content, respectively. Differences were observed between different soil types, and therefore different irrigation strategies are needed in highly heterogeneous plots. Highlights: Precision irrigation is useful when is a high soil variability. Thermal imaging was validated to obtain canopy temperature. Micro-UAV platform with a thermal camera used for water stress detection. Decision support tool for the efficient irrigation management of sugar beet.