Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors

Non-destructive biomass estimation of vegetation has been performed via remote sensing as well as physical measurements. An effective method for estimating biomass must have accuracy comparable to the accepted standard of destructive removal. Estimation or measurement of height is commonly employed...

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Main Authors: Jeremy Joshua Pittman, Daryl Brian Arnall, Sindy M. Interrante, Corey A. Moffet, Twain J. Butler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-01-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/2/2920
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spelling doaj-3599d90c667f4e7d920b7bd1f53ca1632020-11-24T22:50:02ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202015-01-011522920294310.3390/s150202920s150202920Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral SensorsJeremy Joshua Pittman0Daryl Brian Arnall1Sindy M. Interrante2Corey A. Moffet3Twain J. Butler4The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USAOklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Stillwater, OK 74078, USAThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USAThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USAThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK 73401, USANon-destructive biomass estimation of vegetation has been performed via remote sensing as well as physical measurements. An effective method for estimating biomass must have accuracy comparable to the accepted standard of destructive removal. Estimation or measurement of height is commonly employed to create a relationship between height and mass. This study examined several types of ground-based mobile sensing strategies for forage biomass estimation. Forage production experiments consisting of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were employed to examine sensor biomass estimation (laser, ultrasonic, and spectral) as compared to physical measurements (plate meter and meter stick) and the traditional harvest method (clipping). Predictive models were constructed via partial least squares regression and modeled estimates were compared to the physically measured biomass. Least significant difference separated mean estimates were examined to evaluate differences in the physical measurements and sensor estimates for canopy height and biomass. Differences between methods were minimal (average percent error of 11.2% for difference between predicted values versus machine and quadrat harvested biomass values (1.64 and 4.91 t·ha−1, respectively), except at the lowest measured biomass (average percent error of 89% for harvester and quad harvested biomass < 0.79 t·ha−1) and greatest measured biomass (average percent error of 18% for harvester and quad harvested biomass >6.4 t·ha−1). These data suggest that using mobile sensor-based biomass estimation models could be an effective alternative to the traditional clipping method for rapid, accurate in-field biomass estimation.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/2/2920remote sensingbiomass estimationmobile sensorssensor systemdata acquisitionhigh-throughput
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jeremy Joshua Pittman
Daryl Brian Arnall
Sindy M. Interrante
Corey A. Moffet
Twain J. Butler
spellingShingle Jeremy Joshua Pittman
Daryl Brian Arnall
Sindy M. Interrante
Corey A. Moffet
Twain J. Butler
Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
Sensors
remote sensing
biomass estimation
mobile sensors
sensor system
data acquisition
high-throughput
author_facet Jeremy Joshua Pittman
Daryl Brian Arnall
Sindy M. Interrante
Corey A. Moffet
Twain J. Butler
author_sort Jeremy Joshua Pittman
title Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
title_short Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
title_full Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
title_fullStr Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of Biomass and Canopy Height in Bermudagrass, Alfalfa, and Wheat Using Ultrasonic, Laser, and Spectral Sensors
title_sort estimation of biomass and canopy height in bermudagrass, alfalfa, and wheat using ultrasonic, laser, and spectral sensors
publisher MDPI AG
series Sensors
issn 1424-8220
publishDate 2015-01-01
description Non-destructive biomass estimation of vegetation has been performed via remote sensing as well as physical measurements. An effective method for estimating biomass must have accuracy comparable to the accepted standard of destructive removal. Estimation or measurement of height is commonly employed to create a relationship between height and mass. This study examined several types of ground-based mobile sensing strategies for forage biomass estimation. Forage production experiments consisting of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were employed to examine sensor biomass estimation (laser, ultrasonic, and spectral) as compared to physical measurements (plate meter and meter stick) and the traditional harvest method (clipping). Predictive models were constructed via partial least squares regression and modeled estimates were compared to the physically measured biomass. Least significant difference separated mean estimates were examined to evaluate differences in the physical measurements and sensor estimates for canopy height and biomass. Differences between methods were minimal (average percent error of 11.2% for difference between predicted values versus machine and quadrat harvested biomass values (1.64 and 4.91 t·ha−1, respectively), except at the lowest measured biomass (average percent error of 89% for harvester and quad harvested biomass < 0.79 t·ha−1) and greatest measured biomass (average percent error of 18% for harvester and quad harvested biomass >6.4 t·ha−1). These data suggest that using mobile sensor-based biomass estimation models could be an effective alternative to the traditional clipping method for rapid, accurate in-field biomass estimation.
topic remote sensing
biomass estimation
mobile sensors
sensor system
data acquisition
high-throughput
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/2/2920
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