Olive Crown Porosity Measurement Based on Radiation Transmittance: An Assessment of Pruning Effect

• Main Authors: Francisco J. Castillo-Ruiz, Sergio Castro-Garcia, Gregorio L. Blanco-Roldan, Rafael R. Sola-Guirado, Jesus A. Gil-Ribes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-05-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: Olea europaea L.; leaf area density; leaf area index; gap fraction; radiation balance; trunk shaker; canopy shaker; mechanical pruning; harvesting
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/5/723

Crown porosity influences radiation interception, air movement through the fruit orchard, spray penetration, and harvesting operation in fruit crops. The aim of the present study was to develop an accurate and reliable methodology based on transmitted radiation measurements to assess the porosity of traditional olive trees under different pruning treatments. Transmitted radiation was employed as an indirect method to measure crown porosity in two olive orchards of the Picual and Hojiblanca cultivars. Additionally, three different pruning treatments were considered to determine if the pruning system influences crown porosity. This study evaluated the accuracy and repeatability of four algorithms in measuring crown porosity under different solar zenith angles. From a 14° to 30° solar zenith angle, the selected algorithm produced an absolute error of less than 5% and a repeatability higher than 0.9. The described method and selected algorithm proved satisfactory in field results, making it possible to measure crown porosity at different solar zenith angles. However, pruning fresh weight did not show any relationship with crown porosity due to the great differences between removed branches. A robust and accurate algorithm was selected for crown porosity measurements in traditional olive trees, making it possible to discern between different pruning treatments.