METHOD OF PREDICTING CROP YIELD LOSS DUE TO N-DEFICIENCY

摘要

A method for determining the yield loss of a crop using remote sensor data is described. The yield loss is determined using the reflectivity of light by the crop canopy measured from remote sensor data such as an aerial photograph. Pixel color values from the aerial photograph, expressed relative to pixel values from nitrogen-sufficient areas of the field, are transformed to yield losses using a transformation that was developed using empirical data. A similar method is described to determine recommended nitrogen fertilization rates for the crop fields. The yield loss data is useful for nitrogen fertilization management decisions, as it allows a producer of crops to weigh the expense of fertilization against the loss of revenue due to yield loss induced by nitrogen deficiency.

主权项

1. A method for determining a crop yield loss due to nitrogen deficiency in at least one or more crop fields based on an analysis of at least one or more remote sensing images, the method comprising:
a. obtaining the one or more remote sensing images of the one or more crop fields; b. calculating a color value for each pixel of the one or more remote sensing images or a polygon comprising an aggregation of pixels of the one or more remote sensing images, wherein the color value is an individual wavelength or a combination index value comprising at least two wavelengths; c. selecting a reference color value for the field that represents the color value of crop plants with sufficient nitrogen, to be the same wavelength or combination of wavelengths used in (b); d. calculating a relative color value of each pixel or polygon in the one or more remote sensing images by quantitatively comparing the color value from that pixel or polygon from (b) to the reference color value from (c); e. estimating a yield loss of each pixel or polygon from its relative color value using an empirically determined mathematical relationship between the two quantities; and f. presenting a summary of all yield loss estimates for the field, wherein the yield loss comprises a decrease in crop yield per land area of a crop.